^ 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

GIFT  OF 

MRS.   MARY  WOLFSOHN 

IN    MEMORY  OF 

HENRY  WOLFSOHN 


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THE  BOOK  OP  LIFE.  194 

ON  LEAVING  THE  CEMETERY. 

"Then  shall  the  dust  return  to  the  earth  whence 
it  came,  and  the  spkit  shall  return  unto  God  who 
gave  it."  (Ezek.  xii,  7.)  Peace  be  with  you,  all 
whom  death  has  united  in  this  field,  the  last  home 
of  so  many  departed  ones.  Peace  be  with  your 
souls,  which  have  been  recalled  by  the  voice  of  God 
to  eternal  life.     Amen. 


ksnr 

OF 


THE  END. 


193  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

ON  SETTING  A  TOMBSTONE. 

"A  mere  sliadow  are  our  days  upon  tlie  earth." 
(Job  viii,  9.)  Naught  is  left  to  me  of  him  who  has 
gone  "to  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death"  but  a 
stone  bearing  his  name.  This  is  aU  we  have  to  mark 
the  spot  where  his  mortal  remains  are  laid,  to  re- 
mind us  of  what  we  too  shall  soon  become.  In  the 
grave  aU  our  efforts  end.  Here  is  nothing  but  a 
fragile  stone  or  a  nameless  grave,  to  recall  to  us  the 
memory  of  those  whom  we  leave  behind,  unless  we 
sow  the  seed  of  goodness  and  useful  deeds  in  om- 
earthly  career,  the  fruits  of  which  we  shall  reap  in 
heaven. 

O  thou!  who  sleepest  in  the  dust,  this  monument 
•was  not  needed  to  recall  thy  name,  for  thy  precious 
memory  is  enthroned  in  the  hearts  of  many ;  but  thy 
gentle  quahties  and  kind  friendship  have  so  endeared 
thy  image  to  my  soul,  that  death  alone  can  efface 
the  remembrance  of  the  loss  I  have  sustained  in  thy 
decease. 

May  thy  body  rest  in  peace.     Lord!   in  setting 

this  stone  to  the  memory  of I  beseech 

Thee  to  grant  repose  to  his  (her)  soul,  give  him  (her) 
the  peace  of  the  righteous,  and  admit  him  (her)  to 
the  joy  of  contemplating  Thy  divine  presence. 

Vouchsafe  Thy  mercy  to  me,  O  Lord!  that  my 
spirit  may  one  day  also  enjoy  eternal  beatitude,  and 
make  my  memory  worthy  of  being  honored  and  pro- 
served  among  those  whom  I  shall  leave  behind.  Amen. 


THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  192 

AT  A  GEANDPARENT'S  GEAVE. 

With  deep  veneration  I  approach  thy  tomb  to  do 
homage  to  thy  memory,  dear  grandfather  (grand- 
mother), and  recall  to  my  mind  thy  many  \drtues. 
May  this  tribute  of  love  and  respect  be  a  worthy 
offering  to  thy  memory,  which  shall  keep  me  m  the 
path  of  rectitude,  that  I  may  follow  the  example  of 
piety  and  goodness  thou  hast  left  to  our  family.  I 
win  strive,  with  the  help  of  God,  to  leave  a  like  her- 
itage to  my  children. 

May  my  vow  to  honor  thy  memory  by  the  practice 
of  virtue  be  acceptable  to  God,  and  may  He  aid  me 
in  my  righteous  endeavors.     Amen. 


AT  A  FEIEND'S  OE  EELATIVE'S  GEAVE. 

Mayest  thou  rest  in  peace,  dear  friend!  Death 
has  severed  the  tie  that  united  us  in  this  life,  to  be 
renewed  everlastingly  in  a  happier  world,  whither  I 
shall  one  day  follow  thee. 

Now,  faithful  to  thy  memory,  I  implore  God  to 
grant  repose  unto  thy  soid ;  and  to  vouchsafe  to  me 
the  grace  of  a  reunion  when  His  holy  will  shall  call 
me  hence. 

My  God!  permit  that  the  soul  of  him  (her)  for 
whom  I  mourn,  freed  from  earth's  painful  struggles, 
dangers  and  difficulties,  and  purified  through  thy 
mercy,  may  share  the  joys  of  the  blessed  in  eternity. 
Amen. 


191  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

seize  mine,  and  lead  me  up, -and  show  me  the  way 
unto  purer  light,  unto  higher  joys. — O  Lord!  may 
my  (brother  s — sister's)  spirit  have  attained  to  eternal 
peace,  that  {Ms — her)  heart,  satisfied  by  Thy  river  of 
love,  be  filled  with  the  highest  clearness  and  cheered 
by  the  highest  salvation !  Peace  be  unto  this  conse- 
crated spot  that  contains  these  remains.     Amen. 


AT  A  BROTHEE'S  OR  SISTER'S  GRAVE. 

May  peace  be  thine,  dear  friend  of  my  youth! 
What  gentle  memories  and  bitter  regrets  cluster 
around  this  tomb.  Alas!  death  claimed  thee  too 
soon,  and  removed  thee  too  early  from  those  who 
loved  thee.  What  grief!  to  think  that  we,  whom 
one  roof  sheltered,  one  mother  nourished,  the  same 
hearts  cherished  and  the  same  hands  blessed,  are 
forever  separated!  We  were  so  hapjoy  together; 
thy  friendship  was  so  sweet  a  support.  Alas!  thy 
departure  has  turned  our  joy  into  mourning.  Noth- 
ing on  earth  is  lasting.  I  grieve  in  my  selfishness  at 
having  lost ,  thee ;  but  thou  art  happy  near  our 
Heavenly  Father,  and  this  thought  wUl  inspire  me 
with  courage  and  resignation,  as  likewise  the  glorious 
hope  of  meeting  thee  again  in  a  better  world,  where 
eternal  joy  awaits  the  righteous. 

O  my  God !  grant  unto  my  brother's  (sister's)  soul 
the  happiness  of  the  righteous ;  grant  that,  purified 
by  death,  he  (she)  may  rejoice  in  the  beatitude  of 
Thy  divine  presence.     Amen. 


THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  190 

day  of  my  life,  when  I  shall  hope  to  join  thee  in  the 
dweUing-place  of  the  Most  High. 

May  thy  dust  repose  in  peace,  and  thy  spirit  enjoy 
eternal  beatitude.     Amen. 


AT  A  BKOTHEK'S  OR  SISTER'S  GRAVE. 

Full  of  loving  recollections  I  draw  nigh  unto  ihe 
grave  of  my  beloved  {brother — sister)  whose  memory 
can  never  cease.  Oh !  that  thou  hast  departed  from 
me,  that  thou  hast  been  taken  from  me,  with  whom 
I  was  united  by  the  most  tender  bonds  of  blood  and 
love.  My  spirit  wanders  back  to  the  days  of  our 
childhood  which  we  passed  together,  in  joy  and 
sorrow,  with  the  most  fervent  devotion  and  attach- 
ment, when,  faithfully  clinging  to  each  other,  we 
entered  upon  the  paths  of  life,  and  strove  towards 
our  aim,  and  endured  together,  with  the  most  sin- 
cere mutual  sympathy,  all  suffering  and  trials.  Yerily, 
life  was  of  value  to  us  because  we  enjoyed  it  together. 
And  though  now  and  then  differences  of  opinion  and 
intentions  would  separate  us,  how  quickly  would  we 
again  extend  our  hands  to  each  other,  and  forget  all! 
All  at  once  thou  wast  taken  from  me — relentless 
death  tore  thee  from  my  arms.  Thy  picture  stands 
before  me  and  fills  me  with  unutterable  woe  and 
longing.  Alas!  thou  shalt  never  return  unto  me, 
and  I  must  wait  for  the  time  when  we  shall  be  re- 
united.    Then  thy  spirit — as  once  thy  hand, — will 


189  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

AT  A  CHILD'S   GRAVE. 

Here  lies  the  hope  and  joy  of  my  hfe.  O  God!  to 
overcome  thoughts  of  despair,  and  to  learn  resigna- 
tion, I  must  pour  out  my  heart  to  Thee,  and  implore 
thy  pardon ;  for  how  gi'ievously  must  I  have  sinned 
to  be  so  sorely  smitten !  And  yet,  O  Lord !  I  recog- 
nize Thy  love,  and  humbly  bow  to  Thy  holy  wdll; 
Thou  hast  deprived  me  of  my  child.  Not  for  him, 
but  for  myself  do  I  grieve.  He  is  near  Thee.  {For 
a  child  of  tender  age:  He  has  quitted  this  life  be- 
fore he  could  experience  its  sorrows  or  passions ;  his 
pure  soul  has  returned  to  its  Source,  in  the  abode  of 
purity  and  eternal  joy.) 

What  Thou  doest,  Lord !  is  well  done.  Thou  didst 
give,  Thou  hast  taken  away,  blessed  be  Thy  name. 
Yet,  O  Lord !  it  is  for  my  own  heart  that  I  moui-n, 
it  still  bleeds  at  its  bitter  loss.  I  strive  to  submit 
with  resignation ;  yet  my  strength  will  sometimes 
fail  to  bear  the  burden  of  my  grief.  Aid  me,  O  God ! 
for  Thou  knowest  the  strength  of  my  faith  and  tinist 
in  Theo.  Thou  viilt  not  condemn  a  father's  {mofhei-'s) 
tears;  for  Thou,  God!  didst  endow  me  with  tender 
affections. 

O  Thou!  beloved  child,  who,  although  so  young, 
didst  awaken  so  much  joy  and  love,  receive  this 
tribute  of  thy  parent's  sorrow.  Thou  art  now  among 
the  angels  that  serve  near  the  throne  of  our  Heaven- 
ly Father;  yet  will  thy  memory  endure  to  the  last 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  188 

able  woe !  Alas !  the  blossom  that  death  broke  off, 
was  my  happmcss,  and  the  hfe  which  was  extin- 
guished at  Thy  command,  filled  my  heart  with 
cheering  hopes.  By  the  side  of  my  darling  child, 
taken  away  so  soon,  I  hope  to  enjoy  the  dehght  of 
existence  in  double  measure,  to  endure  more  easily 
all  sufferings,  and  to  look  towards  my  end  without 
fear  and  trembling ;  for  I  hoped  that  (Ids — Aer)  hand 
would  close  my  eyes.  But  Thy  thoughts,  O  Lord, 
are  not  our  thoughts,  Thy  ways  are  not  our  ways. 
Thou  hadst  given  me  my  beloved  child,  Thou  hast 
taken  (Jiim — Jier)  away,  Thy  name  be  praised !  Tea, 
even  from  the  depth  of  my  grief  I  worship  Thee  with 
reverence.  Whatever  Thou  doest  is  well  done ;  Thou 
art  our  loving  Father  when  Thou  blessest  and  when 
Thou  chastisest,  when  Thou  givest  and  when  Thou 
takest  away,  when  Thou  grantest  life  and  when  Thou 
sendest  death.  Thou  woundest  and  bindest  up 
again.  Thou  strikest,  and  Thy  hand  healeth  again. 
Therefore,  I  pray  unto  Thee,  Eternal  God !  fill  Thou 
my  saddened  heart  with  consolation.  Strengthen 
my  confidence  in  Thine  all- just  ordinations,  preserve 
me  in  obedience  to  Thy  holy  will.  Forgive  my  sins, 
O  Lord!  and  deliver  me  from  all  evil.  Let  the 
spirit  of  my  child  enjoy  fullness  of  joy  in  Thy  glorious 
habitation  of  peace ;  open  unto  it  the  soui'ce  of  tnith 
and  light,  and  let  it  ascend  higher  and  higher  in  its 
everlasting  salvation.     Amen. 


187  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

AT  A  WIFE'S  GEAYE. 

Beloved  wife!  mj  lieart  is  sorely  grieved;  my 
whole  earthly  hapiDiness  lies  entombed  with  thee.  O 
thou !  whose  confiding  love  was  the  crown  of  my  ex- 
istence, whose  kindness  and  devotion  formed  the  joy 
of  my  heart !  how  can  I  avoid  grieving,  when  I  think 
that  our  children  are  deprived  of  thy  tender  affection 
and  watchful  care?  O  watch  over  them  in  thy 
blessed  state !  May  thy  memory  guide  them  to  do 
what  is  good,  and  be  a  protection  for  them  against 
temptation  and  sin.  May  they  always  remember, 
and  strive  to  imitate,  thy  gentleness,  piety  and 
virtue. 

O  God !  grant  unto  her  for  whom  I  mourn,  all  the 
joys  of  eternity :  grant  that  her  soul  may  watch  as  a 
guardian  angel  over  my  bereaved  children;  remove 
every  evil  influence  from  them,  and  lead  them  in  the 
way  of  righteousness,  so  that  we  may  one  day  be  all 
deemed  worthy  of  being  numbered  among  the 
blessed. 

Repose  in  peace,  beloved  spirit!  and  may  we 
meet  in  eternity.     Amen. 


AT  A  CHILD'S  GRAVE. 

Sweetly  slumbering  the  darling  of  my  heart  rests 
here — my  dear,  early  departed  child;  peace  unto 
(his — her)  soul !  God  of  grace  and  mercy !  forgive 
the  depressed  heart  of  a  mother  trembling  in  unutter- 


THE  BOOK  OP  LIFE.  186 

AT  A  HUSBAND'S  GRAVE. 

Thou  sleepest  beneatli  this  tomb,  dear  husband; 
thou  canst  not  hear  me,  neither  canst  thou  see  my 
tears.  It  has  pleased  God  to  remove  thee  from  my 
love.  My  existence  is  now  a  void;  joy  and  happi- 
ness have  fled  with  thee,  and  I  must  bear  the  burden 
of  life  alone ;  for  thy  hand  can  no  longer  protect  me, 
nor  my  heart  repose  on  thine.  All  is  cold  and 
dreary,  and  I  come  to  pour  out  my  grief  at  thy  grave. 

Here,  near  thy  lifeless  clay,  I  seem  to  be,  for  a 
moment,  united  with  thee  again;  thy  spirit  com- 
munes with  mine,  joins  me  in  prayer,  and  comforts 
me  with  the  hope  of  another  existence. 

May  God  support  me  in  this  heavy  trial ;  may  He 
in  mercy  pardon  the  words  of  bitterness  which  have 
escaped  from  my  widowed  heart.  {If  there  he  chil- 
dren, say:  O  God  protect  my  bereaved  children, 
deprived  of  their  earthly  father's  care.  Heavenly 
Father !  extend  Thy  omnipotent  protection,  and  in- 
spire them  with  a  love  of  duty  and  fidelity  to  our 
holy  faith,  and  veneration  for  their  father's  memory.) 

O  my  God !  permit  that  my  tears  and  son'ow  may 
serve  as  an  expiatory  sacrifice  for  my  sins,  and  for 
those  of  my  family.  May  my  endeavors  to  practise 
what  is  good  atone  for  my  errors,  and  be  accepted 
in  order  to  secure  the  salvation  of  my  soul.  May 
my  husband,  O  God!  repose  in  eternal  peace,  and 
may  it  be  Thy  holy  will  to  unite  those  in  heaven 
whom  Thy  blessing  had  joined  on  earth.    Amen. 


185  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

is  written  in  Thy  holy  book.  To  this  hope  and 
promise  I  shall  ever  cleave.  The  thought  that 
death  cannot  have  altogether  destroyed  the  bond  of 
our  hearts  shall  be  my  comfort  in  my  mourning, 
balm  to  my  wounded  soul;  and  as  my  love  follows 
him  into  yonder  world,  thus  he  will — I  am  convinced 
thereof — look  down,  with  his  love  and  his  blessing, 
upon  me  (and  my  children  whom  he  has  left  behind 
in  orphaned  condition) ;  and  as  I  raise  my  tear- 
moistened  eye  iu  fervent  prayer  to  Thee,  my  God,  to 
implore  heavenly  salvation  upon  him,  he  will,  in 
return,  invoke  Thy  mercy  and  grace  upon  me  {us), 
and  thus  our  souls  -^dll  meet  before  Thy  throne. 

But  unto  Thee,  O  All-good  Father  ia  heaven !  who 
art  a  father  to  the  orphan  and  a  judge  to  the  widow 
in  Thy  sacred  height,  unto  Thee  I  confide  my  life 
now  deprived  of  its  earthly  protection,  and  my 
children  bereaved  of  then-  guide  and  supporter.  May 
Thy  love  surround  me,  Thine  almightiness  strengthen 
me,  Thy  wisdom  enlighten  me,  that  I  may  walk 
through  life  strong  and  courageous ;  that  I  may  be 
enabled  to  fulfill  the  duties  and  obligations  which 
are  now  my  lot  in  double  measure,  Avith  a  manly 
spirit  and  a  womanly  heart,  and  to  preside  over  my 
house  with  understanding  and  strength,  and  satisfy 
all  its  wants.     Amen. 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.  184 

Mayest  Thou,  O  Father  of  all,  not  be  angry  witli 
me,  that  I  lament  thus  bitterly,  that  my  soul  mourns 
so  deeply  over  that  which  Thou  hast  ordained.  My 
God !  I  do  not  take  upon  myself  to  murmur  against 
Thy  dispensations  and  to  censure  Thy  ways.  Thou 
art  the  God  of  love  and  wisdom ;  what  mortal  could 
perceive  and  understand  Thee?  Who  could  pre- 
sume to  judge  Thy  ways  and  ask  Thee:  "What 
doest  Thou?"  Whatever  Thou  doest  is  well  done, — 
therefore  do  I  in  the  dust  adore  Thee  and  in  humil- 
ity pay  homage  to  Thine  inscrutable  counsel.  But 
can  I  command  my  heart  not  to  feel  my  misfortune? 
Can  I  say  to  my  grief:  "Flee  from  me!"  to  my 
mourning  soul:  "Be  cheerful!"? 

And  why  should  my  soul  not  mourn,  now  that  its 
other  half  has  been  separated  from  it ;  why  should 
mine  eyes  not  be  filled  with  tears,  now  that  the  most 
brilhant  star  of  my  days  is  extinguished,  now  that 
the  prop  and  pillar  of  my  house  is  broken,  the 
blossom  and  adornment  of  my  life  withered,  and  the 
most  precious  treasure  of  my  heart  given  up  to 
decay? 

But  no!  only  his  earthly  part,  his  body,  his 
tenement  of  dust  has  been  returned  unto  dust 
whence  it  was  taken,  but  his  nobler  being,  his  im- 
mortal part,  his  spirit  continues  to  live  with  all  its 
thoughts  and  feelings,  -^dth  all  its  faithfulness  and 
love.  "  The  dust  returneth  tmto  the  earth  as  it  ivas,  and 
the  spirit  ascendeth  unto  God  who  gave  it."     Thus  it 


183  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

My  heart  seems  to  feel  that  thy  tender  love  still 
watches  over  me ;  thy  dear  voice  still  appears  to  bid 
me  follow  the  duties  of  religion  towards  God  and 
mankind.  O  may  I  in  performing  good  deeds  on 
this  earth,  and  following  thy  bright  example,  prove 
my  veneration  for  thy  memoiy,  and  obtain  forgive- 
ness for  the  pains  and  tears  I  have  cost  thee. 

O  deeply  loved  mother!  may  thy  pure  soul,  now 
released  from  its  earthly  bonds,  experience  heavenly 
joy?  and  look  on  me  with  love  and  pity. 

Merciful  Father !  hearken  to  the  prayers  of  a  child, 
who  implores  Thy  favor  for  his  {lier)  mother.  Have 
compassion,  judge  her  leniently,  and  receive  her  soul 
in  mercy  into  the  home  of  the  blessed,  so  that  she 
may  rejoice  eternally  in  Thy  goodness.     Amen. 


AT  A  HUSBAND'S  GRAVE. 
Hither,  unto  the  silent  dweUing-place  of  death, 
my  heart,  sad  and  dreary  even  as  this  place,  feels 
attracted.  Surrounded  by  the  night  of  the  grave  my 
beloved  husband  rests  here,  and  my  burning  tears 
may  flow  upon  his  tomb,  my  lamentation  be  poured 
forth  in  undisturbed  currents.  Far  from  the  tumult 
of  life,  no  stranger's  eye,  no  unsympathetic  word 
desecrates  my  grief;  Thou  alone,  O  my  God,  art 
witness  to  the  pain  that  has  taken  root  in  the  depth 
of  my  soul,  causing  life  with  aU  its  beauties  to  appear 
dark  to  me,  and  all  its  joys  to  seem  covered  as  with 
a  veil  of  mourning. 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFH.  182 

honor  and  satisfaction.  Whatever  dispensation  may 
come  upon  me,  I  will  endure  it  in  memory  of  thee, 
as  though  thou  still  didst  walk  before  me,  admonish 
and  warn  me, — as  though  thine  eye  did  still  see  all 
my  actions,  until  my  hour  of  departure  also  shall 
come,  and  my  spirit  ascend  to  yonder  heights,  there 
to  be  received  by  thee ! 

Eternal  Father  in  heaven !  preserve  peace  on  this 
consecrated  gi^ave  which  I  irrigate  with  my  tears, 
that  the  honored  remains  of  my  beloved  mother  may 
rest  therein  undisturbed!  And  unto  her  glorified 
soul  mayest  Thou  vouchsafe  an  eternal  abode  of 
bliss,  in  which  the  noble,  pure  spirit  may  behold 
Thy  countenance  in  everlasting  joy.     Amen, 


AT  A  MOTHEK'S   GRAVE. 

"The  Lord  gave,  the  Lord  hath  taken  away, 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."  (Job  i,  21.)  It 
has  been  Thy  wiU,  O  God!  to  take  my  beloved 
mother  from  me.  This  earth  covers  the  precious  re- 
mains of  her  who  was  devoted  during  her  earthly 
existence  to  the  well-being  of  her  children.  She  re- 
joiced with  us  in  our  joy,  and  sorrowed  with  us  in 
our  grief;  she  lived  only  to  promote  our  happiness. 
Her  body  lies  here,  beneath  this  cold  earth,  and  I 
only  shed  fiuitless  tears  on  her  silent  tomb. 

I  come  hither,  O  mother!  to  honor  thy  revered 
memory,  and  to  commune,  in  thought,  with  thy  spuit. 


ISl  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

tlij  tear  shed  at  mj  error  was  at  the  same  time  a 
tear  of  forgiveness — 0  sacred  spirit  of  my  mother! 
behold  the  tears  flowing  forth  from  the  eye  of  thy 
child  in  the  memory  of  thee, — they  are  all  that  I 
can  yet  offer  unto  thee,  accept  them  as  a  sacrifice 
of  thanks  and  love ! — 

Didst  not  thou  teach  my  hps  the  first  word  of 
prayer  and  du'ect  the  child's  emotions  up  to  God? 
Didst  not  thou  implant  pious  thoughts  in  the  heart 
of  thy  child?  Didst  not  thou  guide  my  first  steps  in 
life,  and  watch  over  me  day  and  night?  Tea,  unto 
thee  I  am  indebted  for  the  germs  of  all  that  is  good, 
for  the  indestructible  seeds  of  piety,  religion  and 
virtue !  Tea,  here  I  confess  it  and  spread  my  confes- 
sion as  a  lucid  shroud  upon  thy  grave. 

How  couldst  thou  be  separated  fi'om  me,  though 
removed  from  this  earth?  I  feel  thy  presence  by 
the  warm  stream  of  feelings  flowing  through  my  soul 
at  this  moment.  Tea,  thou  dost  still  bear  with  me 
all  my  grief,  rejoicest  in  my  joys,  mournest  over  my 
aberrations — but  thou  dwellest  in  the  light  of  know- 
ledge and  tnith,  and  knowest  the  end,  and  the  eva- 
nescence of  all  that  is  earthly,  and  art  conscious  of 
the  mercy  of  God,  and,  therefore,  at  ease  on  account 
of  all  my  destinies,  and  in^-isibly  inspirest  me  with 
comfort  and  courage.  Thus  then  I  will  agam,  near 
this  thy  sleeping-place,  resolve  firmly  and  solemnly, 
to  live  in  thy  spirit,  to  walk  in  the  path  of  duty  and 
virtue,  piety  and  rehgion,  worthy  of  thee,  unto  thy 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.  180 

I  beseech  Thee!  receive  my  father's  soul  among 
Thy  faithful  servants;  and  when  my  hour  shall 
come,  grant  that  my  spirit  may  likewise  be  united 
with  these  in  a  life  which  is  unending. 

Kest  in  peace,  O  my  father!  and  may  thy  spirit 
enjoy,  in  eternity,  the  contemplation  of  the  living 
God.     Amen. 


AT  A  MOTHEE'S  GRAVE. 
My  dear,  beloved  mother,  who  sleepest  beneath 
this  sod,  for  ever  laid  at  rest  in  the  lap  of  earth — thy 
child  draws  nigh  to  thee  with  the  tear  of  mourning 
in  her  eyes,  burning  even  as  on  the  day  when  they 
brought  thee  hither.  Thy  spirit  sojourns  upon  the 
heights  of  eternal  light,  but  couldst  thou  ever  forget 
thy  child,  still  walking  in  the  shadows  of  earth  ?  No ! 
a  mother's  love  is  everlasting,  eternal,  even  as  her 
soul  is  eternal,  even  as  God  is  eternal  who  implanted 
that  love  in  her  heart !  In  pain  thou  gavest  me  life, 
and  yet  thou  didst  greet  me  with  a  gladsome  smile 
when  I  lay  in  thy  arms ; — thus  thou  didst  ever  endure 
the  sufferings  of  life  and  accept  them  with  a  mother's 
smile. — What  trouble  is  there,  that  thou  wouldst 
shun,  what  care  that  thou  wouldst  not  endure  for 
me?  As  thou  wouldst  watch  at  my  bed  of  sickness, 
— as  thou  woiddst  sacrifice  aU  for  me, — as  thy  first 
and  thy  last  glance  at  me  was  full  of  self-sacrificing 
love, — as  thy  heart  excused  even  my  failings,  and 


179  THE  BOOK  OF  LITE. 

eartli,  and  graciously  forgive  whatever  sia  and  trans- 
gression ho  may  have  committed  from  human  ■wcak- 
ness.  And  may  all  his  sufferings,  troubles,  tribula- 
tions and  hardships  which  he  had  to  endure  during 
his  earthly  sojourn,  be  his  atonement  and  propitiation 
before  Thee,  that  he  may  be  a  partaker  of  eternal 
peace,  beatitude  and  salvation  in  Thy  divine  pres- 
ence.    Amen. 


AT  A  FATHER'S  GRAVE. 

My  father,  my  kindest  friend,  my  dearest  benefac- 
tor, whom  God  had  appointed  to  love  and  protect 
me,  reposes  in  this  silent  grave.  I  shall  never  hear 
again  his  dear  voice;  death  has  stUled  his  loving 
heart;  his  friendship  and  kindness  can  no  longer 
comfort,  neither  can  his  counsels  and  example  guide 
me.  Alas!  I  cannot  now  make  a  return  for  his  de- 
votion or  loving  kindness,  nor  have  the  happiness  of 
surroimding  his  old  age  with  marks  of  respect  and 
solicitude ;  but  I  will  strive  to  show  my  respect  for 
his  memory  by  deeds  of  righteousness  and  obedience 
to  his  expressed  wishes  while  he  was  yet  on  earth, 
and  this  endeavor  will  surely  bring  me  consolation. 
Assist  me  in  this,  O  God !  with  Thy  counsel,  inspire 
me  with  wisdom  and  inteUigcnco,  and  enhghten  me 
that  I  may  follow  the  right  path.  Cause  my  works 
on  earth  to  reflect  honor  on  my  father's  memoiy, 
and  do  Thou,  Lord!  accej^t  them  as  an  expiatory 
sacrifice  for  any  sins  ho  has  committed. 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  178 

once  possessed  in  him.  He,  tlie  faithful  guide  of  my 
youth,  my  monitor  and  counsellor,  did  attend,  with 
wise  circumspection  to  the  ennoblement  of  my  spirit 
and  the  strengthening  of  my  body ;  he  illumined  my 
mind  and  filled  my  heart  -odth  love ;  he  submitted 
joyfully  to  all  the  struggles  of  life,  in  order  to  procure 
to  his  child  the  joys  of  life.  O  my  dear  father — while 
I  remember  thee,  my  tears  are  streaming  forth,  and 
my  heart  is  overflowing  with  love  and  grief.  But 
what  can  my  love  profit  thee  now?  It  can  no  longer 
cause  thee  earthly  joy  and  earthly  happiness,  who  art 
far  removed  from  all  earthly  wishes,  earthly  wants,  and 
earthly  cares  ! 

But  doing  good,  practising  charity,  ennobling  the 
heart — these  are  heavenly  joys  which  a  child  may 
prepare  for  his  glorified  and  sainted  father.  And 
these  joys  I  will  prepare  for  thee,  by  performing 
good  actions  in  thy  name  and  in  thy  sphit ; —these 
shall  be  the  sacrifices  to  be  ofi"ered  up  by  me  upon 
the  altar  of  my  filial  love, — may  God  record  them  in 
His  book  of  eternal  life,  unto  thy  beatitude  and  sal- 
vation in  thy  heavenly  habitation ! 

O  God  of  heaven  and  earth !  as  my  sainted  father 
has  left  behind,  in  paternal  love,  his  blessings,  thus 
do  I,  in  return,  from  flial  love,  bless  his  memory 
before  Thee,  and  pray  unto  Thee  for  the  salvation  of 
his  soul.  Oh !  mayest  Thou  also  remember  him  in 
love  and  mercy,  mayest  Thou  remember  every  noble 
deed,  every  good  action  which  he  performed  on  this 


177  THE   BOOK   OP  LIFE. 

sainted  spirit  is  fanning  upon  me.  How  could  the 
memory  of  the  glorified  being  ever  vanish  from  my 
heart  and  soul?  As  long  as  I  shall  walk  upon  this 
earth,  this  sacred  memory  shall  be  faithfully  en- 
shrined within  the  inmost  recesses  of  my  soul,  until 
I  also  shall  conclude  my  earthly  career  and  meet 
again  the  loving  and  loved  being  whose  loss  I  deeply 
mourn. 

Father  of  life !  I  pray  Thee  to  vouchsafe  rest  unto 
the  soul  of  my  sainted  (fatJier — motlier).  May  {his — 
^.er)  spirit  have  found  peace  upon  the  heights  of 
eternal  hght, — pure,  undimmed  peace  unto  all  eter- 
nity !  May  Qiis — her)  soul  be  bound  in  the  eternal 
bond  of  life.  May  it  tarry  before  Thee  in  purity  and 
salvation !  And  for  me,  (Jiis — her)  earthly  child,  who 
still  walks  in  the  shadows  of  this  world,  subject  to 
changing  fortune,  to  error  and  sin,  may  that  sainted 
soul  intercede  before  Thy  throne,  that  I  may  be  pro- 
tected upon  all  my  ways  and  deserve  Thy  grace.  O 
Lord!  Thou  givest.  Thou  takest  away.  Thy  name 
be  praised  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 


AT  A  FATHEE'S  GBAVE. 

All-merciful  God!  In  this  silent  field,  where  the 
earthly  remains  of  my  departed  father  rest,  I  will 
dedicate  my  fiUal  tears  and  emotions  unto  his  mem- 
ory. Now,  that  I  have  lost  him,  the  dear  one,  for 
this  earthly  life,  I  fully  know  what  treasure  of  love  I 


THE   BOOK   OP  LIFE.  17G 

These  consoling  thoughts  dispel  the  gloom  of  this 
mournful  spot,  where  I,  in  my  turn,  must  one  day 
seek  my  rest.  The  grave  is  the  gate  which  opens 
for  us  a  new  state  of  existence,  where  our  good 
works  are  our  only  true  possessions ;  these  are  never 
lost,  and  will  obtain  for  us  grace  in  the  sight  of  Him 
who  is  our  impartial  Judge.  O  God!  regard  with 
pity  those  who  sleep  here  in  theu'  last  resting  place ; 
may  their  good  deeds,  their  earthly  sufferings,  and 
the  pangs  of  death,  be  regarded  by  Thee  as  a  ransom 
for  their  souls;  and  may  it  please  Thee  to  appoint 
their  portion  in  eternal  bhss. 

Guide  me,  O  Heavenly  Father !  during  my  earthly 
pUgrimage ;  so  that  when  it  shall  please  Thee  to  call 
me  hence,  my  soul  may  appear  worthy  of  Thy  salva- 
tion.    Amen. 


ON   THE  ANNIVEKSAEY   OF  A  PARENT'S 
DEATH.     (JAHRZEIT.) 

This  day  recalls  to  my  miud  the  solemn  and  sor- 
rowful day  on  which  the  soul  of  my  beloved  [father 
— mother)  departed  from  its  eai*thly  tenement,  on 
which  the  eye  broke  that  once  so  lovingly  and  ten- 
derly rested  upon  me,  on  which  the  hand  was  palsied 
in  death  that  once  so  faithfully  guided  and  supported 
me — a  day  of  paiaful  recollection,  of  ever  renewed 
mourning!  The  ever  honored  picture  of  my  dear 
parent  appears  before  my  soul,  the  breath  of  the 


175  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.     . 

MEDITATIONS  AND   PRAYEKS  ON  VISIT- 
ING THE  GRATES  OE  THOSE  WE  LOVED. 

My  soul  is  fiUed  witli  sadness  on  entering  this 
mournful  abode  of  the  dead.  Here  are  ended  aU 
human  projects  and  desires,  passions  and  endeavors ; 
pride  and  lowHness,  wealth  and  poverty,  love  and 
hate,  aU  sleep  here  alike  in  peace. 

How  terrible  would  be  our  anguish  and  despair,  if 
faith  did  not  reveal  to  us  the  immortal  destiny  of 
the  soul !  Were  we  not  to  acknowledge  a  future  re- 
sponsibility, there  would  be  no  such  impulse  as 
duty;  the  loftiest  sentiments,  therefore,  the  hoUest 
affections,  would  lose  their  incentive,  and  remain  un- 
cultivated as  useless  emotions. 

But  all  ends  not  here.  Death  is  not  annihilation ; 
it  is  but  the  entrance  to  a  better  existence,  and  loads 
to  eternal  life;  for  in  death  the  soul  casts  off  its 
material  garment  to  enter  the  abode  of  immortahty. 

Those  loved  ones,  whose  ashes  repose  beneath 
this  sod,  are  not  eternally  lost  to  us ;  they  live  in  the 
presence  of  our  Creator,  and  their  graves  sen^c  as  a 
memorial  to  those  who  loved  them  in  life,  and  hope 
to  be  united  to  them  in  eternity.  O  ye  whom  I  have 
loved  so  tenderly !  although  you  repose  now  on  your 
last  bed  of  rest,  you  will  hve  forever  in  my  heart,  I 
pray  for  you  on  earth ;  as  I  feel  that  you  watch  over 
me  in  the  abode  of  the  blest,  where  I  hope,  one  day, 
our  souls  will  be  united  in  glory. 


THE   BOOK   or  LIFE.  174 

this  departs,  what  is  left?  Naught  but  clay  and 
ashes.  Of  what  avail  therefore  are  dignity  and 
riches?  will  they  not  be  left  to  strangers?  do  we  not 
return  naked  as  wo  came?  why,  then,  should  we 
listen  to  the  voice  of  jjassion?  why  are  we  intoxicated 
with  success,  when  such  is  sure  to  be  our  end? 

Let  us  cast  aside  all  iniquity,  amend  our  conduct, 
and  return  to  our  Father,  the  King  of  kings ;  for  re- 
pentence  and  prayer  will  obtain  His  mercy.  Let  us 
examine  our  ways,  and  think  of  our  end,  for  we  know 
not  when  the  day  of  death  will  come.  Let  us  hft  up 
our  hearts  to  God;  for  we  have  been  led  away  by 
worldly  illusions,  and  have  been  wandering  astray, 
like  sheep  without  a  shepherd. 

May  the  death  of  him  for  whom  we  now  mourn, 
cause  us  to  repent  while  there  is  yet  time ;  for  we 
know  not  when  we  may  be  summoned  before  the 
tribunal  of  the  Most  High. 

Grant,  O  Lord !  that  this  warning  may  not  be  lost 
to  us ;  but  do  Thou  assist  us  to  make  a  proper  use 
of  our  days  on  earth,  so  that  we  may  employ  them 
righteously,  and  secure  thus  our  salvation.  Call  us 
not  unprepared,  we  beseech  Thee,  into  Thy  presence, 
until  we  shall  have  been  able  to  efface  our  sins  by 
pious  acts  and  righteous  deeds.     Amen. 


173  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

which  Thou  hast  made.  Then  shall  I  profit  from 
my  woes,  and  all  times  rest  in  Thy  hands ;  for  Thou, 
O  my  God !  art  my  Savior  and  my  living  Redeemer. 
Amen. 


PEATEES  FOB  THE  DEAD. 


EEFLECTIONS. 

How  dare  we,  inhabiting  this  frail  clay,  raise  our 
eyes  in  pride.  Should  we  not  rather  remember  that 
our  body,  like  that  of  the  crawhng  worm,  wiU  soon 
be  mingled  with  the  dust? 

Man  is  vainly  proud  of  his  reason  and  intellect; 
yet  these  treasures  cannot  save  him  from  the  de- 
crees of  divine  justice,  if  he  wickedly  makes  a  wrong 
use  of  these  possessions. 

Let  us  reflect  then,  whence  do  we  come,  and 
whither  are  we  going.  Human  hfe  is  Hmited  like 
that  of  the  plant ;  a  day  may  destroy  what  the  pre- 
ceding one  has  produced.  Is  it  not  better  to  die  in 
righteousness,  than  to  fall  a  prey  to  temptation  and 
sin  in  the  pursuit  of  the  perishable  wealth  and 
fleeting  power  of  this  world? 

Frail  from  our  birth,  we  consume  our  energies  in 
toil  after  riches ;  the  body  resists  the  call  of  religion 
so  long  as  it  remains  animated  by  the  soul ;  but  when 


THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  172 

dens  that  Thy  paternal  hands  may  impose  upon  me. 
In  Thee,  O  God !  I  trust,  for  Thou  art  nigh  unto  all 
who  call  upon  Thee.     Amen. 


PKATEK  IN  HEAVY  SICKNESS. 

O  Lord!  answer  and  compassionate  mc,  for  I  am 
fuU  of  distress,  and  humbled  in  mine  aiBictions. 
I  am  bowed  down  with  weakness  as  a  child,  and 
without  Thine  aid,  how  shall  I  bear  my  troubles? 
Oh,  that  my  deeds  had  been  worthy  of  Thine  appro- 
bation, then  had  my  soul  been  satisfied  and  my  heart 
rejoiced.  Yet,  do  Thou,  O  God!  regard  my  contri- 
tion, hear  my  prayer,  and  lend  Thy  mercy  even  as  a 
staff  for  my  support.  O  Lord!  pains  and  evils  are 
inherited  with  the  nature  of  man,  yet  my  soul  shall 
not  be  shaken  by  their  approach.  For,  on  whom 
shall  I  call  for  help  but  on  Thee?  And  where  shall 
I  rest  my  hope  but  in  Thy  mercies  ?  "  Though  my 
flesh  and  my  heart  fail,  God  is  my  consolation,  my 
'portion  for  ever  ;  for,  lo,  they  that  are  far  from  Thee 
shall  perish,  they  that  go  after  the  favor  of  others  shall 
he  destroyed.''  Ah!  were  my  days  of  soitow  length- 
ened to  the  number  of  mine  offences,  yet,  O  Lord  1 
I  would  still  bless  Thy  name,  and  Thy  dispensations, 
for  Thou  art  my  consolation,  the  resting  place  of  my 
soul.  Then,  wherefore  should  I  complain?  I  will 
resign  myself  to  Thy  wiIl,for  Thou,  O  Lord!  art  the 
Author  of  my  being,  and  wilt  not  destroy  the  work 


171  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

good  Father !  whenever  and  wherever  Qie — she)  may 
have  erred,  and  remember  all  the  good  and  charitable 
deeds  which  {he — she)  may  have  performed, — Oh!  let 
these  deeds  now  intercede  for  {him — her)  before  Thy 
throne  of  justice  and  mercy. 

May  my  fervent  prayer  come  before  Thee,  that  the 
hovir  of  dehverance  and  salvation  may  soon  arrive, 
and  our  tears  of  woe  be  turned  into  tears  of  joy  and 
gratitude.     Amen. 

PRATER  FOR  A   SICK   CHILD. 

O  All-merciful  Father!  from  the  depth  of  my 
aggrieved  heart  I  implore  Thee :  spare  my  child,  do 
not  take  away  this  treasure  that  Thou  gavest  unto 
me  from  Thine  boundless  grace  and  goodness.  I 
know  this  treasure  is  Thine,  as  all  other  boons  which 
I  call  mine;  Thou  disposest  of  them  according  to 
Thy  holy  wUl.  O !  may  it  be  Thy  holy  will  to  pre- 
serve for  me  tliis  precious  jewel !  Once  Thou  spokest 
unto  Thy  suffering  Congregation :  "  Call  unto  me  in 
need,  and  I  shall  hear  thee .'"  And  through  the  in- 
spu'ed  Isaiah  Thou  gavest  the  consohng  assurance 
unto  Thy  people  Israel :  "7  tvill  pour  my  spirit  upon 
thy  children,  and  my  blessing  upon  thine  offspring!" 
Oh !  extend  this  paternal  promise  also  upon  my  child, 
grant  him  {her)  health  and  long  hfe. 

And  unto  me  grant  strength  in  aU  the  cares  and 
trials  of  life,  fortify  my  courage  in  the  fulfillment  of 
my  duties  and  in  the  endurance  of  all  the  heavy  bur- 


/!,«<-> 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.  170 

sacred  bard  teaches  me :  "  He  that  trusteth  in  the 
Lord,  mercy  shall  compass  him  about."  Ketui'n,  O 
God !  unto  mj  beloved  husband,  his  former  strength 
and  vigor,  return  him  unto  his  sacred  duties,  and  let 
him  work,  yet  for  many  years,  for  the  welfare  of  our 
family !     Oh !  may  this  be  Thy  holy  will.     Amen. 


PEAYER  FOE   SICK   PARENTS. 

More  in  tears  than  in  words  is  my  prayer  poured 
forth  this  day,  before  Thee,  All-merciful  Father!  in 
tears  burning  and  abundant,  produced  by  woe  and 
anxiety !  For  what  is  more  saddening  for  the  heart 
of  a  child  than  to  know  that  a  dear  parent  is  jDros- 
trated  upon  the  couch  of  sufferings  and  sickness? 
And  however  much  I  trust  and  hope  in  Thy  mercy, 
yet  with  trembling  and  alarm  I  bow  before  Thee,  to 
implore  of  Thee  the  life,  the  health  of  my  beloved 
(father — mother).  Thou  hast  proclaimed  the  word  : 
"  Ye  shall  seek  my  face  /"  I  seek  Thy  face  with  a 
longing  heart.  Oh !  do  not  hide  it  from  me.  Hearken 
unto  my  fervent  prayer, — let  not  my  tears  flow  in 
vain  before  Thee,  have  mercy  upon  my  dear  (fatlier 
— mother),  quicken  (hivi — her)  with  the  soft  dew  of 
Thy  gi'ace,  mercifully  pour  Thy  healing  balm  upon 
(his — her)  wounds,  and  let  the  rays  of  Thy  goodness 
and  compassion  descend  upon  (him — her),  that  (he 
— she)  may  be  uplifted  by  their  warmth  and  restored 
to  strength  and  vigor.     Forgive  {him — her),  O  All- 


ADDITIONAL  PRAYERS. 


PEAYEES  FOE  THE  SICK. 


PBATER  FOR  A  SICK  HUSBAND. 

From  the  depth  of  my  heart  I  call  upon  Thee,  O 
my  Lord.  Awful  is  the  darkness  that  suiTounds  me 
on  account  of  the  sickness  of  my  beloved  husband. 
With  a  contrite,  anxious  and  lacerated  heart  I  implore 
Thee,  that  Thou  mayest  preserve  unto  me,  yet  for 
many,  many  years,  the  precious  treasure  which  Thou, 
in  Thy  grace,  didst  vouchsafe  unto  me. 

Refreshed  by  no  slumber  nor  rest,  the  nights  pass 
away  before  me ;  bitter  woe  is  my  severe  companion, 
for  the  happiness  of  my  family  Hes  prostrate,  the 
crown  of  my  house  is  surrounded  by  dark  clouds. 
O  Lord!  hearken  unto  my  prayer, — remove  this 
heavy  weight  from  my  heart !  Do  not  deprive  me  of 
the  dearest  and  highest  of  all  treasures,  do  not  tear 
the  heart  from  the  heart ! 

But  the  hope  written  within  my  heart,  by  the 
beUef  of  my  fathers,  speaks  imto  me  with  consoling 
words:  "Confide, — and  endure,  whatever  the  Lord 
may  have  ordained  for  thee!"  Yes,  I  wait  upon 
Thy  paternal  grace,  I  trust  in  Thy  mercy,  as  the 


167  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

Witli  a  contrite  heart  I  repent  all  I  have  done  against 
thee,  all  I  have  thought  against  thee.  O !  that  thy 
pity  may  be  moved  and  thy  prayers  may  be  active 
for  me,  that  the  Lord  God,  blessed  be  His  name, 
may  pardon  all  my  sins :  and  all  my  transgressions 
against  His  law  and  against  His  creatures  may  be 
blotted  out ;  and  that  His  help  may  be  extended  to 
me,  that  I  may  cling  to  His  law  without  stint  or  hin- 
drance. And  may  the  Lord  lead  me  henceforth  on 
the  still  waters  of  peace,  and  happiness  and  grace 
may  be  my  portion  all  the  days  of  my  life,  so  that 
I  may  always  dwell  in  the  House  of  God.    Amen. 


□  ' '  n  n    -I  D  D  16B 

n^xyv  ny^m  '^b)i^  hm  fen'  .tjudd^  nitL^VD 
^jjn  ]inD  Ni>'i£^  ^n^py  "i?;^^!'fel  'H^j^dq  nynp 
npp^c^  "^^p.^i^l  ♦  nniDj  n^nn^  vbi;  connnp 
-'jp^  np^zyi  rh^rQ  ilayni  ^by  Tj^pni  '5<j 

•      IT  T  V  -         T  -  TT  -;-         T  -:  - 

"^'l^^:!  ♦''-P.fe.^i  ninup  ''P'^yj  ♦pcp^pinnpp 
^JipiT  npnjDlco  TJ^5i  ♦D^p^w?  ^nl:tz;i  ^p; 

Tiv    I  ••  T  •  T     ;  V  I  :     t:         ••  :       ■    :  -  :    t  -      ••  :       t 


165  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

Thou  alone  blessest  all.  The  eyes  of  all  are  directed 
to  Thee ;  and  Thou  givest  to  all  their  food  in  due 
time.  Thou  openest  Thy  hand  and  satisfiest  all  lining 
in  mercy.  I  cast  my  burden  upon  Thee  and  Thou 
wilt  sustain  me. 

And  ye  pure  souls !  pray  for  me,  that  my  lot  be 
blessed:  so  that  I  may  serve  God  with  a  j^erfect  heart 
all  my  lifetime ;  and  that  I  may  go  hence  into  Hfe 
immortal,  when  my  day  will  come,  and  leave  behind 
me  a  good  name ;  and  then  dwell  in  your  midst  in 
the  heavenly  Eden  above.    Amen. 


PEAYEE  FOE  FOEGIVENESS  OF  SIN  COM- 
MITTED AGAINST  DEPAETED  ONES. 

To  be  recited  on  the  grave. 

Peace  be  with  thee,  hallowed  and  pui'ified  spirit, 
now  resting  in  the  bright  realms  on  high !  Perfect 
peace  with  thee,  who  dweUest  now  with  the  angels 
above,  whilst  thy  mortal  remains  repose  in  the  quiet 
grave.  But,  alas!  I  am  pained  and  oppressed  by 
sin  and  iniquity ;  and  hither  I  came  now  to  this,  thy 
dark  grave,  to  ask  forgiveness  from  thy  spuit  for  all 
the  wrong  I  have  done  or  meditated  to  do  to  thee 
when  living  with  us  on  earth.  Behold,  I  confess,  I 
acted  wrong  against  thee  {N.  N.,)  1  have  sinned 
against  the  law  of  God  in  striving  to  harm  thy  name, 
or  in  neglecting  to  fulfil  my  obUgations  toward  thee. 


.D  ' '  n  n    "1  D  D  164 

T];b^  te  ^JV.  'D^^^^  '^ipP''  npns  ;^  nn^Nt 
Trhm  ^^  rrhv  A))i^  ^n-^D^  y^STOT  T]-i^-nv^5 

I    •  :    -     t:      Iiv  t       I        t      -        t  :      -  r  :    -         Iivt 

•!••  ;  :  -  ;  t  -  :      •  t  ; 

™invn  Dnincsni  n^ti^npn  rfim;  ]m] 

^P^^^l^p^  ''^^P  n'3;j:i  ^TV  °'">'?^  ''I^.?  r^^ 
nyrai  Dlcoa?^pi  ♦;'n'^p^-^3  d^i^  dj^s  ray? 


PEAYEE  FOE  FOEGIVENESS  OF  SIN  COM- 
MITTED AGAINST  DEPAETED  ONES. 

uhp\  mn^n)  myn  nn  nm  rfbv  uh^ 
.TnnTinnup^TnDD^pnra  ^hotj^i  ?]^pj^ 
imj  ^"'niDvyi  ♦npn  ^d^^^pp  n^^yp^  ♦no^?; 

olppb  n^n  ^n^3   ♦d^^Ih!:^  Q'^'^^ni  n^yf^sp 
Tjp.^D^T  T]^  );:nnri'?  -"^p^i^p  n^D'pi  "n^Dp 

n-ip  "^::ni  ,T]nini  Tjinni  T]rn  ;]niDD  "ij:  Dn?i 

•    :i-    •;        •    ;i-    :  •    V  -       t  :         Jt  ;       ••  t  :    •       ••    v? 


1G3  THE  BOOK   OF  LITE. 

Thus  rest,  rest  in  peace,  ye  upright  slumberers! 
Repose  until  the  King  of  Ufe,  the  Lord  of  heaven 
and  earth,  will  exclaim :  "  Rise,  ye  upright  ones !  Rise 
to  everlasting  life ! " 

Source  of  life !  Grant  that  we  may  enter  into  a  life 
of  happiness  and  peace,  until  the  faithful  messenger 
win  draw  near,  and  the  anointed  of  the  God  of 
Jacob,  and  affectionately  restore  the  hearts  of  parents 
to  children,  and  the  hearts  of  children  to  parents, 
and  when  righteousness  ■will  precede  us.  We  will 
then  praise  and  adore  our  God  with  aU  praises  and 
glorifications ;  for  He  is  gi-eat,  mighty  and  tremend- 
ous. He  revives  the  dead  by  His  mere  word,  who 
does  great  and  unsearchable  deeds,  marvellous  things 
without  number.  Blessed  be  He  who  reviveth  the 
dead. 


PRATER  FOR  DAILY  BREAD. 

To  be  recited  on  the  graveyard. 

May  it  be  Thy  will,  O  Lord,  our  God,  and  God  of 
our  fathers,  that  my  daily  sustenance,  and  that  of 
all  thy  people  Israel,  proceed  from  Thine  hand,  so 
that  it  always  should  be  plentiful  and  honorable. 
Let  me  never  depend  upon  tho  gifts  or  loans  of  man : 
but  let  me  ever  depend  on  Thy  bountiful  hand. 
May  all  my  labor  be  fruitful,  and  may  it  never  be 
barren.  May  my  work  lead  to  life,  not  to  death. 
May  Thy  sacred  name  never  become  desecrated 
through  me ;  and  may  I  be  one  of  those  that  pro- 
mote good  among  mankind.  Fill  my  hands  with 
Thy  blessings,  and  my  heart  ivith  Thy  goodness. 


n  ' '  n  n    i  d  d  162 

^■3n:^Jt_i  :rnni  ^Dipni  ij^nni  iii^j^n  ]^i^  ^D^'in^ 
ciSn  :^")p^' "i5^v^  -ly  ,d1^^^t  d^dIcd  □'-nb'  d:3J 
nlD^5  dS  D^^m  ,Dpy^  ^ri^v^^  n^ii^^D  p^J  "i^i? 

T  :         I    -:-    ••      v:    -    r    :.    1  t  v.v      ,    • 

ipn  i\^""iy  rcbi:\  nm  imb^h  nsi^:^  b'^nji 
nl3,ini  ^n^;in  b^n  ^^^in  .ispp  ^^'iv  ni^^^DJi 
•nn^DD  o'^HD  npnp  ,ra-]D  Dn*,D^5  n^nn 


PEATER  FOR  DAILY  BREAD. 

To  be  recited  on  the  graveyard. 

"'^^l  '"^7,^  Q'plVP''  °'P??^'<Pi  Q'"^.^:??  ''^^?"1^' 
^nni  /nDnnni  nn^n^n  n^j^pn  ?]-ij7  Cv^  ^3 

T  T        T  :  •     •  :    -  •     •        r     '  ■         •••:■•■: 

liv      •       -I-:  -  :     I  IV        :  •  •        -t       ••  -  ;  •  t 


161  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

Eternal,  and  accept  our  prayers  witli  mercy   and 
favor !     Amen. 


SHOET  PKAYER  ADAPTED  FOR  A'ISITING 
THE  GRAVE  OF  EITHER  FATHER,  MOTH- 
ER,  SON,   DAUGHTER,  BROTHER  OR  SIS- 
TER, RELATIVES  AND  FRIENDS. 

May  God  remember  tliy  soul  for  good.  *[May 
He  preserve  thee  from  tlie  ten*or  of  tlie  gi'ave.] 

May  He  grant  imto  thee  a  sweet  slumber,  and 
mayest  tliou  rest  in  the  grave  in  perfect  ease.  May 
the  merit  of  thy  pious  deeds  be  extended  to  us  in  the 
time  of  trouble,  and  thy  soul  be  treasui'ed  up  in  the 
treasure  of  life,  in  association  with  all  the  pious  ones 
in  Israel. 


PRAYER  ON  QUITTING  THE  BURIAL 
GROUND. 

Peace  be  unto  you,  ye  pure  beatified  souls,  ema- 
nations fi-om  the  effulgence  of  Him  who  created  the 
luminaries.  Behold,  I  go  my  way,  and  mj  soul 
blesses  the  Eternal,  the  God  of  life,  to  whom  I  direct 
my  prayer.  O  may  Ho  deign  to  guard  within  me 
my  soul  and  spii'it;  may  He  hear  the  prayers  of 
those  who  seek  Him,  increase  the  honor  of  His 
perfect  ones,  and  heap  grace  and  mercy  on  His  pious 
and  meek  in  the  land,  who  perform  His  command- 
ments :  so  that  they  may  see  their  descendants  gi'ow 
strong  in  health,  and  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  cause 
them  to  behold  the  solemn  assembly  in  the  sacred 
temple. 

*  At  tho  grave  of  tboso  departed  within  a  year  add. 


D  ' '  n  n    ■)  D  D  IGO 


SHOET  PKAYEB  ADAPTED  FOE  VISITING 
THE  GEAYE  OF  EITHEE  FATHEE,  MOTH- 
EE,  SON,  DAUGHTEE,  BEOTHEE    OE   SIS- 
TEE,  EELATIVES  AND  FEIENDS. 

(n^^im.  nsi?p  n;3j^r!  coi2TO  ^"101^:1  fi'^o^^  ^nn^sb 

□p^nii  n^^ii^-oy  a^^nn  nnijs  nnn!i  ^in 
j.  ._    ^ .      .      —       ..       y  .    .. 

:]^^  .]iv  ]nii^  m'^^ifjivi 


PEATEE  ON  QUITTING  THE  BUEIAL 
GEOUND. 

T  v:v  :  -  T    :  -     Iv    ••  -:  t 

;^-n«  ^my\_  r^'Trh  '^^Sn  ^jjn  rnni^^pn  n!^i^ 

■   T  :    •  :       •  •         T  :    •         •  t    •    :        -  •■ :  •  -:t 

r)pv  mb^  "ID3  HDT  ,r!i^-)n  nn;ny  ya^i 

I    I"  ;  T    :   •        ••  •        I;  -       TT-:-         vivt   I  •• 


159  THE  BOOK   OP  LIFE. 


draws    near    to    iis,    be 
remembered       and       in- 


ment,  that  draws  towards 
us,  be  remembered  and 


scribed  sealed 

in  the  book  of  a  happy  life  and  of  blessing,  to  pardon 
and  forgiveness  for  all  our  sins  and  transgressions. 
Father  of  mercy!  Grant  us  a  happy  and  blessed 
year,  a  year  of  feUcity,  of  peace,  of  truth,  of  redemp- 
tion, of  gladness,  of  honor,  of  good  assembly,  of  sub- 
sistence, of  enhghtenment,  of  ease,  of  consolation,  of 
Divine  assistance,  of  piety,  of  sanctity,  of  peace  and 
of  salvation.  Deign  to  send  Thy  blessings  on  our 
undertakings,  grant  our  requests,  and  fulfil  our  de- 
sires ;  exalt  our  horn  on  high,  terminate  our  sufferings, 
collect  our  dispersed,  and  hasten  to  redeem  us. 
Pardon  the  sins  of  Thy  people  of  Israel,  who  are 
yet  alive,  and  of  those  whose  souls  have  quitted  their 
earthly  coils.  *  [Pardon  and  cleanse  us  on  the  ap- 
proaching sacred  Day  of  Atonement  from  our  sins, 
so  that  all  may  be  free  from  guilt  on  the  great  and 
awfril  day  of  judgment,  as  indicated  in  the  Day  of 
Atonement. 

May  the  godly  and  meritorious  deeds  of  those 
pious  ones  who  repose  here,  and  of  those  who  sleep 
in  Hebron,  be  extended  to  us,  to  remove  from  rae 
and  from  all  Thy  people  of  the  house  of  Israel  all 
wrath  and  anger,  so  that  I  may  not  quit  fiiiitlcssly 
this  awful  place.  Send  us  Thine  anointed  one,  re- 
build for  us  Thy  sacred  house,  restore  Thy  Divine 
glory  to  our  glorious  land,  and  deal  with  us  bounti- 
fiiUy  in  our  latter  end.  May  Thy  paternal  mercy 
prevail  over  us ;  for  Thoii  art  oiu*  God.     Hear  us,  O 

•On  the  d»y  before  ni22n  D'*  s^dd. 


D  ' '  n  n    -I  c  D  158 

IT    TV  I-  -  T        -  T     •    :   •   :  T      •    :   •   : 

HDto  n:w  "i^bv  "inm  .ti^:u:>  ijy^s^i^i  it)V^i 

T  T  T  I"  T  :   •  :         I  IV  T  :  :  i-  t  v  :         r  t  •.-, ; 

,nDn3  n^cp'  ,r,CvN  n:i^  .dpij^pt  d^didd  D^^n^ 
,2)10  "lyi  n:^  nin  n:iz;  ,nyn.  n:iz;  ,n^%Nj)  n::;^ 
rHVity^.  r\2p  ,ny\\D  r\:p  .nnn  n:ti^  ,jnii  hjiz:^ 
n:ii^  ,nn:p  n:s;^  n^d?  r\:p  nb^b^  nr^ 

:  -  :  t;  V  -  :  t  ;  —         -  :  t  t  v 

r\:p  ,]1i^")  n::^  '»^?lp  ^^^  ''^RIV  ^yp 
:nj-!3?o  dul^d:  n^^y^T  -'^  nns  -)i;:^v^^i  ,n3"ily 

t  t:    •  T     :  -  T  :  t:     t;        t     i-  t  v  -;- :         t  iv 

';  'JD^l  ♦u^nvNtsn-H'sp  i:nl>c  in^^  »u^_b>y 

t:  :  T  -    )     •  -  :  ••         t  t        t         ~   :.  ■ 

D^jn^^n  n'!:):^  \n^2  '^m  D^iz^n^n  di^^  ^:2b 

•    T    ••  T  T|-       1     VI T  T  V    -:  ■  '•     ~  f  "^  "^         "'•    ' 

D^2pr\  nsy  ^;p'":^2  HDoi  anap  ,7Dn  ^"piD 
,ijn^TO"  uS  n^ii^ni  liini^p^?  s^^pni  -pni 
n™'-^3  ,ir^y  ^^on  com  ,ijnnnv^  u^  D^com 

T  -       •  I"  T       !    :  :   -  -  :  I"      •-;  -        it  •    ••  : 


157 


THE   BOOK   OF   LIFE. 


Grant  to  remove  from  us,  and  from  all  the  people  of 
the  house  of  Israel,  trouble,  sorrow,  auction  and 
evil  mishaps.     Amen. 


PEAYER  ON  VISITING  THE  BURIAL 
GROUND     ON    THE    DAY    BEFORE    NEW 
YEAR  i^i^^  ti'^i  3iy)  AND  ON   THE   DAY  BE- 
FORE YOM  KIPPUR. 

May  it  be  acceptable  in  Thy  presence,  Thou,  eternal 
God  of  mercy  and  forgiveness,  who  sittest  on  the 
throne  of  mercy,  to  incline  Thy  tender  compassion 
towards  us,  and  to  look  down  fi'om  Thy  celestial  seat 
on  Thy  [servant]  [handmaid],  who  with  a  trembling, 
heart  and  a  contrite  sphit  ventures  to  approach  this 
awful  and  sacred  spot  of  the  pious  ones,  who  repose 
here  in  peace,  to  invoke  Thy  paternal  forgiveness  foi' 
the  sins,  iniquities  and  transgi'essions  which  I  have 
committed.  Enter  not  into  rigorous  judgment  with 
us ;  for  no  one  can  be  justified  before  Thee.  Alas,  I 
feel  my  imworthiness,  I  am  conscious  of  my  ti'ans- 
gressions ;  yet  do  it  for  Thy  sake  and  for  the  sake  of 
the  merit  of  the  holy  ones,  who  slumber  in  the  dust ; 
for,  imto  Thee  and  for  Thy  salvation  are  our  eyes 
continually  directed,  that  Thou  mayest  justify  us  in 
Thy  judgment. 

[On  the  Day  before  the  [On  the  day  before  the  Day  of 

New  Year.  ]  Atouemeut.  ] 

Grant  that  we  may  on        Grant  that  we  may  on 

the   ensuing  morning   of    the  ensuing  morning,  the 

the      New     Year,      that     day  of  fasting  and  atone- 


n  n    "I  D  D  156 


T  7-;-  I     t:  tt         ••    t  : -  t     I  •       It- 

:]i2^  ,Yp^2  Yv^j2'bD] 


PEAYER  ON  VISITING  THE  BURIAL 
GROUND    ON    THE    DAY    BEFORE    NEW 
YEAR  {r\2ivr\  mi  n-i;;)  AND  ON  THE  DAY  BE- 
FORE YOM  KIPPUR. 

•    ;   -  :  •  -.-  -  T       ••      v:    t:      )  ivt  :     )         t       •  : 

■    —.    -  ••    •  -  ••  -         1     VIT    T  7  -  JviV 

-b3  Tl-'JDb  pili^  ^b  ^D  ,1J0y  \DBm2  vNlDn-'Pv^l 

7      ) IV  7  :     )     - :  •  •         17  •        7  :    •    :  7        - : 

'"^pn")  f^prSp  2p]  ,T]T7  ?^ppp  i}i2i  rn 
jnpp  i:"iDii  ,T]05p^b  a\^"!lpn  ^r^r^V'bv  nnii 
noy  ^:?ii:^  ]vd?)  Tjjpp^  ni^^l  .'^;:3dS  dIco 
u^r?  Tjb  -'p  ,nsn  yn^D  -^p^i  u^^pii^n 
iD-ui  ,T]jnD  i:pn^  ,nnp_p  ^nvi'^'n^i  nlbnip 

nDD3  Tr:^h  onn:T  idds    ti''jdH5  Dn3:i 

VI"  :       I IV  7     :  ••  7'-:         VI-  :  l  iv  7     :  ••  7  •  : 

V7  .    -      -  ^      ^   .    .     .  ^  .  . . 

7   -  •  ••.  •      -  T  7      -  VT 


155  THE  BOOK   OF  LITE. 

not  my  o^n  mouth  pronounce  me  guilty,  sajing: 
Wherefore  have  thy  children  died  dm-ing  thy  life? 
I  will  rise  and  justify  myself  before  God.  For,  as 
for  these  lambs,  what  have  they  done  to  terminate 
then-  earthly  existence  ?  Yet  for  all  this  do  we  render 
our  thanks  unto  Thee,  and  declare  t!ie  justice  of 
Thy  sentence,  and  tremble  at  Thy  reverence.  And 
Thou,  Eternal  God  of  my  life!  hearken  unto  my 
prayer,  and  may  the  pure  soul  of  my  beloved  child 
rise  and  shine  in  the  presence  of  Thy  Divine  glory, 
and  in  the  assembly  of  the  cherubim ! 

Thou,  my  child,  who  hast  been  entrusted  to  me  but 
for  a  moment,  rise  with  thy  supplication  before  Him 
who  hearkens  to  prayer,  that  He  may  deign  to 
pardon  my  sins,  the  cause  of  thy  early  death!  May 
His  rod  and  dread  not  terrify  me ;  may  my  days  be 
fulfilled  in  happiness,  and  my  years  iu  pleasantness ! 
May  naught  but  "happiness  and  tender  mercy  attend 
me  all  the  days  of  my  life,  so  that  I  may  dwell  in  the 
house  of  the  Eternal  in  length  of  days.  May  He  in 
His  mercy  deUver  me  and  the  remnant  of  my  children 
from  death  and  baiTenness,  fi'om  disease  and  dejec- 
tion, fiom  trouble  and  distress,  and  fi-om  want  and 
misery.  May  the  Most  Merciful,  who  bestoweth 
His  infinite  compassion  on  our  righteous  forefathers, 
lead  thee,  beloved  soul,  into  the  garden  of  Eden: 
there  to  defight  in  the  fellowship  of  the  righteous. 
May  thy  untimely  death  be  considered  as  an  offering 
for,  and  an  expiation  of  my  sins  and  of  those  of  my 
household,  so  that  He  may  not  continue  to  afflict 
me.  Grant  to  bless  me  with  good  children,  who  may 
enjoy  good  health,  and  delight  in  Thy  sacred  law. 


D  ' '  n  n    n  D  D  154 

T  T       •■       V  -:  T        V  !         -       V  ••  :       I  iv     v:     •• ;  ■ 

DniD  i:njiS  ^yrh^  ^-^  •:5-2n-by  ^3  n^^^)  i^^if^ 

:  I — :         I"     v:    t:  -        _       .  j  j  .  f 

T       :    -  T  T    :  -      Tiv-:— .•  -        •■  :         t   •    : 

•     :-  7  -  :  •        :   -         ;  -  :        t  iv  -:-;  •   t  t:t 

T    •    :   •  -;  T  7         •   :  -7  :         7  7  -      7   r  7         v  -: 

7     •• :  :   ■         -I  -:-  :        -  :      •  iv  •       I  :  7    |  •  :  :7 

V  IV7  )  -  •     •  :  -       -       :  -       _T       ..  -    . 

7   •  viv  -    :  7     •    •        ■    :-        7   :  •  ••  -; 

nraro  npDi  *npii{i  nni^-bai  *nS-QT  nbno 

)7       :         1 7  1 7       :         77        7   •  V  IV-  7  -:  - 

:^r\D'h  n^DV-^^1  *^jnn  ^:iy  Shot  *np-5DDi 

•  r:  - :        I    •  -  :        •        :        •    -:         -  :  • :  1 77  •.  : 

)  7  7       •—  7|-     •  -        7  17  7  7  -:        -         ••    :       •        7  7-:-; 

?<"iro  D-iDT  *  ^ jn^D  ^c:^j^5-b  bv)  ^:bv  ^^^dd 

••7  7)7:  7  17    ••        ••    :  -         7         -:         77-:  77- 

p)^pv  ^<bi  \^jy"i3  ^?pnp  •'i  i^-ipp  v^inj?  npby 

I      •  :    •    )-■  :         717    I  V  •:  7.17  ••.  :  •;  7-;  -; 


153  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

High  and  exalted  One,  that  He  may  deign  to  pardon 
and  to  forgive  the  sins  and  transgressions,  and  the 
evil  deeds  which  I  have  committed.  May  He  lead 
me  in  ease,  comfort  and  quietude,  even  to  an  old  and 
hoaiy  ago ;  may  He  ever  guard  me  and  the  remainder 
of  my  children  from  irrevocable  destruction,  from 
untimely  death,  fr'om  every  sickness  and  plague; 
and  guard  my  going  out  and  my  coming  in,  Anth  life 
and  peace,  fr'om  henceforth  and  for  evermore.  Be- 
loved child !  Go  to  thine  end,  and  repose  in  peace, 
and  rise  for  thy  lot  at  the  end  of  the  days,  with  all 
the  righteous  ones.  And  He  being  merciful,  forgiveth 
iniquity,  and  destroyeth  not;  yea,  Ho  frequently 
turneth  away  His  anger,  and  awakeneth  not  all  His 
wrath,  and  when  He  -wdll  send  Ehjah  the  prophet 
before  the  coming  of  the  great  and  fearfiil  day  of  the 
Eternal,  to  restore  the  heart  of  fathers  to  their 
children,  and  the  heart  of  children  to  their  fathers, 
then  He  will  comfort  both  me  and  thee !     Amen. 


PKAYER    ON  VISITING    THE    GEAVE    OF 
INFANTS. 

Peace  be  imto  thee,  pure  soul,  once  WTapt  in  the 
body  of  my  beloved  child !  How  transitory  has  thy 
earthly  Ufe  been!  Thy  existence  was  more  ideal 
than  reality.  "We,  frail  mortals,  dare  not,  cannot 
dive  into  the  hidden  wisdom  of  the  uuscnituble  de- 
cree, to  unravel  the  cause  of  thy  early,  untimely 
death.  Is  it  merely  as  a  trial  of  my  implicit  resigna- 
tion, of  my  love  to,  and  my  faith  in  God,  or  is  it 
because  of  my  sins  that  testify  against  mo?    But  let 


D  ' '  n  n    *i  D  D  152 

w'md?)  wv^Bb]  ni:ip;b>  rhm  nsD^.^  ,  m:] 

•    I    •— :  V  :        •   :  -  T  V  :        ■     •  t  v  :       •      it   t  v  •    t  7 

•^^pr^iy  ^y^^)  ^^p  nlnij?p  ^r^-bv  ^ipnT] 
y-ini  ]Tb3'p  ^yiT  ^^^p)  ^nls-^  lQ!;i^:^i  '^y^) 

-  T  -  :  •  V  T     •    •        I    viT  T       ••  :         T 

-  :  ...  ...  T  -  T  :      •  t:  t   • 

Tti^n^  nj"|ni  ,n^ni2':  ^]  ,py  nsD^.  mni  ^ini 

TV-:  T      -  :  T  -  -  ••  :  •  •  t  - 

^D-'J^-by  nlnvX-D^i  Dnbv^-by  d^jd  dS  D^si^n^ 

•  T        -  T        ••  :        T       -:       -  •  T        ••  •    T  : 


PRATER   ON   VISITING   THE    GRAVE    OF 

INFANTS. 

:    •  T        V  V  ■•.  :        ■•■":.        T       :  t  t  :      ri-T  t 

^b]  rp2  >ih^  o'plyb  n^^y;  ^b]  *^y")i  ^m 
^jy^i;:^!^  ^d  i^^i :  n^ln  ^<D■^^  ud  i:y  ij^jiy 


151  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

PEAYER   ON   VISITING    THE    GRAVE    OF 
GROWN-UP  CHILDREN. 

Peace  be  unto  thee,  tliou  pure  soul !  Thou,  my 
delight,  my  longing,  -with  whom  God  had  favored  me 
on  this  terrestrial  world.  Thou  hast  been  entrusted 
to  me  by  His  infinite  kindness,  and  in  His  unsearch- 
able wisdom  He  deemed  proper  to  deprive  me  of  thee. 
Blessed  be  His  sacred  name.  O  how  beloved  were 
thy  words  to  me.  Thy  name,  thy  rememberance, 
were  the  dehght  of  my  soul.  But,  alas !  my  beloved 
has  withdi'a"UTi  fi'om  me.  He  appeared  and  vanished ; 
I  called  him,  but  he  gave  me  no  answer ;  I  sought 
him,  but  found  him  not.  I,  short-sighted  mortah 
dare  not  penetrate  into  the  Di^ine  secret.  I  cannot 
fathom  the  reason  of  thy  untimely  departure.  Hast 
thou  only  been  entrusted  to  me  for  a  cei-tain  time,  or 
have  my  sins  been  the  cause  of  thy  early  death  and 
my  hea\"y  afiliction?  Alas!  either  way  I  was  not 
permitted  to  train  and  rear  thee,  beloved  child. 
Thou  didst  come  forth  like  a  flower ;  thou  didst 
blossom  in  the  morning,  thou  didst  promise  precious 
fruits ;  but  how  untimely,  how  early  in  life  hast  thou 
been  blasted  by  a  scorching  sun,  and  crushed  by  a 
temptuous  storm,  like  a  flower  that  is  cut  do^ii  in 
the  morning,  withered  and  scattered.  I,  a  sadly 
bereaved  [father]  [mother],  come  therefore  to  the 
valley  of  weeping,  to  pray  to  God  that  He  may  re- 
ceive thy  soul  in  His  heavenly  seat,  and  to  protect 
it  in  His  sublime  and  secret  place. 

Thou  most  pure  and  heavenly  soul!  Rise  and 
appear  with  prayer  and  supplication  before  the  Most 


Q  ' '  n  n    -)  D  D  150 

PEAYER   ON   VISITING    THE    GRAVE    OF 
GROWN-UP  CHILDREN. 

T-  :  T     •  T         V   -:  T     •   ;        t  t   :        f\-  -  t 

^<!iv^  ^VD  N*!il!0  ,nD3  h  ^^d2  '^^^  ni^  ni:i 

......  J  -  ^  •     :  -         V  -;         T  T       I 

:  •       )  -  T  :  •  T   ••  :  -  t        v  -:  -  :  - 

)D^b  ^^DJ  n\xn  *nQi  ^bv  .th  tdh  :biD2 

:    •         •     :  -  — :  -  •      -  t       t  t  •   t  t  t 

n^^i:  noDJi  n^::  n^y  dot  nn  *nDi':5i 

T.'  t:-:  t:-  ttJ-t         •  ;•: 

r       T   :  :  r    :  I  -•      •  t  t  :        •       tI:  t  :    • : 

T  T         •  -it:        t  t  -;  -       ....  -        •  ;   -t  •  -:- 

iM^'Dt^  1^5  *n:aiD  riTinn^  n:»"^y  n:ir\D 

..  _.         .  T  -  :  •  T  •  -:  -  :  t  :        -  t  t  - 

I  ..  ..  _.        •  :  -  •  V  -:  7  ••  T     •  ••     :         it         t 

6^:^  ^n^p;  ^b  T]3  p3i  Tjs  ]^3  :ni:pBn  b2pb 

,ni^3)2r\'b^]  vbon-b^  ,D^plD  nip  ^b  n2%) 
])2D'b^  njby^  Mr\D^2'bv  h^'bti^  nb-^sn.^^i 

I        :  V  Tiv- :  -  T   ;     •        -  ••         v         t  :  -    :   v  : 

n^iil  ♦P'pn  an;  p^^;  -inp^  ™Tnp:i  ,lnp^ 


149  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

of  a  wife  to  a  husband  has  been  compared  to  one 
doomed  to  see  the  destruction  of  the  glorious  temple, 
then  the  death  of  a  husband  to  a  wife  surely  re- 
sembles the  overthrow  of  the  whole  universe.  Rise, 
therefore,  beloved  of  my  soul ;  pray,  suppHcate  and 
implore  the  mercy  of  the  Most  High  and  Holy  One, 
the  Father  of  the  fatherless  and  the  Judge  of  the 
widows,  to  have  mercy  on  the  remnant  of  thy  flock ; 
that  He  may  deign  to  pardon  my  sins,  and  to  support 
my  house  that  is  broken  down,  to  grant  me  a  remedy 
for  my  suffermgs,  and  to  look  down  from  His  celestial 
abode  with  compassion  on  me,  and  on  all  that  depend 
on  me.  Heavenly  Father  !  be  Thou  my  comforter, 
my  healer ;  remove  from  me  every  disease  and  affic- 
tion,  repair  my  ruin  and  provide  for  me  and  my 
children  our  daily  wants.  Grant  that  they  may 
grow  up  Hke  the  cedars:  that  their  roots  may  strike, 
and  their  branches  spread.  May  their  remotest 
posterity  be  wise,  understanding,  honored,  attached 
to  Thy  sacred  law,  and  devoted  to  piety  and  virtue, 
and  may  they  spend  long  years  in  riches,  honor  and 
ease. 

Grant  me  Thy  paternal  aid ;  strengthen  me  in  the 
fulfilment  of  my  arduous  task,  for  it  is  Thoii  who 
protectest  the  weak,  and  raisest  the  drooping  spirits 
of  the  fatherless,  and  never  despisest  the  prayers  of 
widows. 

And  thou,  heavenly  soul  of  my  beatified  husband! 
May  God  remember  thee  for  good.  May  thy  sacred 
ashes  repose  in  peace,  uutd  thou  art  awakened  to 
everlasting  life,  and  to  uninterrupted  bUss,  joy  and 
gladness.     Amen. 


rut         ^ 

*tR8(Tr 
or 


.□  ' '  n  n    TDD  148 

nn^D  HD-in  mn  /r^o^^  n-'sn  pins  nbys-^y 

~     •          V    :  •         ••  •           T  T  :         -1 —     I  T    :  T  :         t  :  -         >- 
-  T         :  T        T  -v.-v  •   ;  :     •  -        -| 

rb^PQ  ^r-im  ♦  "^jt  [^"i:  n^^s-^y  Drn_  p 

I  — :  •         :       •  -:  t    • :         t  ••        •  :  •  t  I  t  - : 

n^\^  ^stp-Syi  -hv  uryr]  *  ^2)^Dd^  ny.  w^m 
*Dnnn  ^n^s  r^s  2w^^)  *^Dip?o  y;irbDi  nbno 

TV        •••)-:•         ••    -  •         .    ;)•    •        -,v       t;       t -;  - 

m  yys  D^iri  ^Dns-:  n-ji^i  jiid  onb  -^ipb] 
)2b  'r^m  *D"im  inDS  u^d^q  t^^^t  *i;:^rai 

IT  •  :  -:  vivT        -1-  :         i"  t  -:  -  •  t:  ; 

•D^jra  D^orn  *CT3D  ''::]i  o^js  ^^-^m  njy 

:  •  t  -:  •  T       ••  :  •  t  v  i  t      It  t 

•D^:io-Tn-^D  nl!iQ3i  nnln^  Dpoly  *d^:s  ^^5^t:^:l, 

-  :  -        T  :  •  :  t       -         )  •  :  •  t       •• 

nlm:o  -^^'hv  "ilDDi  niz^ys  d^js:^t  d^o^  on^N^Di 

:        ••        -  T  :        V    I  :  •  t  :  .,...._._ 

T  iv:  :  •  •   T  T       -:  t       I  :  t  :     •  t  - : 

-^3  IV  ,nmr22  ris  niT  r^m]  *nplcob'  n^i^^ 
:]m  .nnnbi  |it:^|^b  ^nrinb  -inyn 


147  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

enliglitcned  my  darkness  and.cliecred  my  gloomi- 
uess.  Thou,  the  crown  of  my  glory,  and  the  remedy 
of  my  affliction.  But,  alas !  now  my  sun  has  gone 
down,  and  I,  a  bereaved  "widow,  am  left  alone  and 
destitute.  My  brightness  disappeared,  and  my  delight 
vanished.  Alas !  when  I  enter  my  house,  when  I 
look  this  way  and  that  way  and  perceive  thee  not, 
I  exclaim  in  the  anguish  of  my  heart,  "WTiere  art 
thou  ?  Wherefore  hast  thou  forsaken  me,  the  grieved 
of  spirit  ?  Who  will  console  me,  who  will  heal  my 
affliction,  and  who  will  stay  the  tears  on  my  cheeks?  I 
come  to-day  to  the  valley  of  the  fountain  of  tears;  to  the 
cleft  of  the  rock  of  the  resting  place  of  my  delight 
and  joy,  I  sought  him  and  found  him  not ;  then  I 
called  out  from  distress.  Peace  be  unto  thee,  and  to 
thy  jDurified  soul.  Mayest  thou  rest  in,  and  be  pro- 
tected under  the  shadow  of  the  Divine  Glory,  and 
ever  be  remembered  for  good. 

I  beseech  Thee,  O  God !  look  on  the  affliction  of 
Thy  handmaid ;  behold  my  grief,  my  contrition,  my 
crushed  spirit,  my  troubled  mind  and  my  great  dis- 
quietude. *  [Behold,  with  whom  hast  thou  left  these 
sheep, — mine  and  thine,  lambs  which  thou  hast  left 
to  themselves !  Thou  didst  go  to  rest,  but  us  thou 
hast  left  to  sorrow.  Who  shall  teach  them  know- 
ledge, who  make  them  that  are  weaned  from  the 
milk  understand  the  ways  of  the  living  God  and  the 
spirit  of  our  inherited  faith  ?  Who  vriil  guide  us  in 
the  path  of  rectitude,  and  who  will  teach  us  the  right 
Jind  proper  use  of  time  ?]  To  whom  hast  thou  en- 
trusted thy  soiTowful  widow?     Verily,  if  the  death 

*A  Mother  of  a  young  family  adds. 


•Q  ' '  n  n    n  D  D  146 

*  n-^Q^ji  -i-iD  ^niyn^^ji  :  nyp::^  ^^:2\^  nn^i 

T      :  -:  TT         •;-;•:  t):  t  •     :    •  t  -; 

.^'^  [\x  ^3  n^<>^5i  riD]  riD  njDv^.i  ^n^D^  \NtiD3 
nc^i^  nncti^-i  riDiiy  ^jnDTy  nD\^  :nD\^5  -irj^^^i 

s-    •         T        :  T     -•      •  T  :  -  -:       t    ••  tiv  -       -      : 

I\^<  .  ^^n^-^y  'PiV^D  ^^D^?  .Ids  ♦  nn  PDii^y 

I    ••  •  :   V         -      •  T  :    •:        v  :   v  t  -     i        -    i  -: 

ryn-^v^  orn  i<"DvNi  .^jlr  d^iil^o  ^"^i  un:D  ^b 

I  •  i-T         V  -  TT  •      :  •  ••  :        —  :       • 

]¥l.  h^2  .  nnlnipn  ^np?;;bi  T]p  dI*:?^  n^^^i 
3lcob  ^^•^^  mt^)  ivb  in'))^^  ^^"^^  liDS 

V :    •  -  V :  -T  T       :  V  :   •  t 

I IV  T  -:        V     T     :-t:        v    :  •  t       t       ••  •  :  t       : 

-  -        T  ;       •  -     •   :  ~       :    •    ;      • :  t         ••    ; 

^j^'i^l  '^;^)i  r\)m2  .  n^nn  ]^)in  coyp  nii^ip;  ^p 

:   •  T  -         T   :  -  T  T  IT-;  t  :  i-  •  v    -; 

I    •  T       •  t  ••  VI  t  -:t  it  t  .- t: 

IT         V  I       •  •  i-t    •       I"     •  -;       T  T  ••       ••        :         T 

.■nnjob^^  nn:o::n  ^o-^yi  i^w^n  :^vi^  i:*:?  nii^ 

livT  :  :    -     T    :  I-  :    •        •         -:  v    i  -         -|-       it  vi 

nm  nn^p  nmn  u^\  iTjn^D  [i^s  n:Di  'P') 


145  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

plore  His  sacred  name,  that  He  may  deliver  us  from 
trouble  and  affliction,  £ind  that  I  and  all  who  belong 
to  me  mar  fulfil  our  years  in  happiness  and  content, 
even  to  a  good  old  age.  [Merciful  Father !  grant 
that  my  descendants  may  be  good,  virtuous,  upright 
and  pious,  free  from  sin  and  blemish,  so  that  they 
may  never  defile  or  desecrate  Thy  great  name.  Cause 
their  Hght  to  break  forth  as  the  morning,  and  may 
their  health  speedily  spring  forth.  Gracious  Father ! 
Deign  that  I  may  train  them  in,  and  lead  them  to 
the  gloi-ification  of  Thy  sacred  name  and  holy  serv- 
ice ;  do  not  subject  them  to  the  gifts  of  the  sons  of 
men,  nor  suffer  that  they  stay  their  hunger  by  that 
reached  to  them  at  the  tables  of  strangers.  Incline 
their  hearts  to  study  and  to  search  Thy  sacred  law, 
and  guard  them  against  mahce,  envy,  and  discord.] 
Arise,  call  upon  thy  God!  tarry  not,  invoke  his 
mercy,  that  He  may  Hsten  to  our  supphcation,  for 
the  sake  of  the  merit  of  our  pious  forefathers,  and  of 
aU  the  godly  and  vu'tuous  ones  who  sleep  in  the 
dust. 

Purest  of  souls,  thou  my  beloved!  May  thine 
ashes  rest  in  ease  and  tranquilhty.  Abide  thou  in 
everlasting  and  uninterrupted  fehcity,  and  rise  at  the 
appointed  time,  when  the  Almighty  will  awaken  thee 
to  constant  gloiy  and  pei-petual  life.     Amen. 

PEAYEE  FOE  A  WIDOW  ON  THE  GEAYE 
OF  HEE  HUSBAND. 

One  married  to  another  must  not  visit  the  grave  of  her  first  husband. 

Peace  be  unto  thee,  thou  spirit  of  my  beatified 

husband !  Thou  who  hast  been  the  prop  of  my  house, 

and  the   delight  of  my  dwelling.     Thou  who  hast 


.□  ' '  n  n    "1  D  D  144 

^bm  .u^:im  q^q^  rn^b  ^:^^n^i  .ni)i)  uvrb^^ 

■■  -    ■  •  T  :         •  T    J  V  I  :       .  ..  -    .  TT  :        —      t   ■ 

T  T      ••  :  •  -:t  :  •  :  •  t  :         •     i: 

«np  ap  iDn.i  nnn  ^yrr  ^bi  -onniNi  |n^i!::^^ 
bvX-^^1  )TiV2  'hbBnn  .^'^mrrb^  If^^b^'b^ 
.lypv  ^ni^pD  ^5)q^  Dini  ^ini   :nn^ 

TjHjpra  ,Dlbif^i  ^p.;;?:^n3  ra;  "rjDi:!  ^n5^^^5 
:  n^D  ,pvx  Dinm  ni^ra  nonn 

T  IV     I  ••  T  T  -        t:  -    :         V  v:  v 


PEAYEB  FOE  A  WIDOW  ON  THE  GEAYE 
OF  HEE  HUSBAND. 

One  married  a  second  time  must  not  visit  the  grave  of  her  first 
husband. 

]'^22  n^^i  ^m  ."bvyi  ^^^^  nn^  ri^bv  nh^ 

I  -;    •         T    |-T  V    -:  •     :   -  •  T    -  I    IV  T  T 

-)nm  ♦  'h^^r^  i\^50  n^^n  .t>n^  r\r\m)  ^n^s 


TIT        •  t:it 


143  THE   BOOK    OF  LIFE. 

thine  eyes  now  feast  on  the  radiant  glory  of  the 
Divine  presence,  which  is  hidden  from  the  eyes  of 
fi'ail  mortals.  Beloved  and  revered  spirit!  God,  in 
His  inscmtable  wisdom,  has  pleased  to  terminate 
thine  earthly  pilgrimage,  to  summon  thee  to  regions 
of  everlasting  repose,  whilst  I  am  yet  ordained  to 
taiTy  in  the  valley  of  sorrow;  be  thou  therefore  my 
guide.  Approach  the  throne  of  mercy,  and  implore 
upon  me  grace,  that  I  may  not  stumble  on  my  dismal 
intricate  and  rugged  path.  Remember  not,  when  in 
an  imheeded  moment  of  impetuosity  or  unguarded 
passion,  my  mouth  might  have  uttered  harsh  ex- 
pressions and  words  of  unkindness,  which  caused 
thee  grief,  sorrow  and  trouble.  O,  do  pardon  and 
forgive  me !  Ma^  thine  aflfection,  thy  love,  thy  sym- 
pathy, which  have  not  ceased  wdth  thy  death,  be  my 
polar  star,  to  lead  me  to  the  land  of  Hfe  and  of 
bhssfulness,  to  illumine  my  gloomy  and  dismal  nights, 
and  to  protect  me  from  danger,  fi'om  trouble  and 
mishaps. 

May  thy  pure  soul  unite  with  me  in  prayer  before 
the  Dispenser  of  all  events,  to  guard  me  from  afflic- 
tion, grief  and  sickness,  and  to  grant  unto  me  and 
all  that  belong  to  me,  a  long  and  happy  life:  a  hfe  of 
honor,  of  plenty;  free  from  care  [*so  that  I  may 
maintain  my  children  and  my  household,  and  train 
them  in  the  service  of  His  sacred  name,  according  to 
the  tmo  and  unfeigned  desu'e  of  my  heart.]  May 
peace,  blessing,  ease,  honor,  plenty  and  glory  be  the 
portion  of  my  inheritance.  Lift  up  thy  voice  in 
prayer  and  supphcation  to  the  Father  of  mercy ;  im- 

■*  A  fiitber  of  a  fomily  adds. 


•D  ' '  n  n    1  c  D  142 

*)yhv  "iQn-S*^  coin  "qn^pnD  tj^toh^  ^^^-^bv 
D^^^Dsn  nn^^  Pv^Jlns  *nnjD  n^sn  nipy^ 

•     •  :   -  -T    :        -T        :  -i-:  •         -i —         vl-.— :- 

D^^^DOT  nlDD  'h^^h^  ivNira  \^  *nlrDi  n^^ 

TT-"  T-:  T-:  t:*"' 

-Tj^rib^^  ^^  ^:sDTii^  =)jb^Dm  n^sns  Ti?Dy^ 

ri-     v:      t:        ••  :         v         i-     •   :    •  t  •    :  •  -:- 

^im  ♦□y.pi  "111;!  nm]  "ipli^  n-^^n  n.^npn 

IT      I V   •:  T        -:        T'-:        t       ••  -    •  ^         ;  -         j     ..  - 

■•"IS  ♦-iD'np  t<'bi  ^^^pDi  '^my\  idds  D^pn^  a^^n 
nilDyb  nhih  .^d^2  ^jdi  ^o  djid^  by^^*^ 

:nnnnDi  nn^^^nDi  "idddi  mnv^Di  d1^c:^d 

T  T  :  T  :  T  T  :    -  :  t  :  t  -:  -  :  t    : 


141  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

ON  THE  GEAVE  OF  A  WIFE. 

One  married  a  second  time,  must  not  visit  the  grave  of  his  first  wife. 

Pious,  purified  soul  of  my  beloved  wife !  Thou 
didst  soar  up  to  the  secret  clouds,  to  the  regions  of 
peace,  under  the  protection  of  the  Most  High.  There 
thou  abidest  in  fehcitj,  whilst  I  am  [*and  thy  des- 
cendants are]  yet  tarrying  on  earth.  O  thou  truly 
faithful,  affectionate  and  loving  spiiit,  mayest  thou 
now  receive  the  reward  for  thy  faithfulness  in  the 
circle  of  the  pious  and  beatified  mothers,  and  the 
God-feaiing  and  virtuous  daughters  of  Israel. 

Most  \di-tuous  of  wives !  pure  and  spotless  soul ! 
Thou  hast  at  all  times  been  girded  with  the  fear  of 
God,  animated  with  the  enlightened  spiiit  of  our 
mother  Sarah,  actuated  by  the  truly  benevolent 
feelings  of  Rebecca,  and  adorned  with  the  modest 
and  virtuous  sentiments  of  Rachel  and  Leah.  Thou 
hast  most  cheerfully  and  most  earnestly  watched 
over  my  household,  [to  teach  the  sons,  to  instruct 
the  daughters,  and  to  precede  them  -vdth  thy  pious 
example ;]  to  cheer  the  hearts  of  the  poor,  to  cele- 
brate the  sacred  festivals,  and  to  sanctify  the  sabbath. 
Thou  hast  changed  my  house  into  a  temple,  and  my 
table  into  an  altar.  Thou  hast  watched  over  their 
sanctity.  Mayest  thou  now  enjoy  the  godly  fiiiit  of 
thine  ardent  zeal  and  pious  efforts  in  the  regions  of 
.  iminterrupted  happiness. 

O  may  our  merciful  Father  command  His  benign 
angels  of  peace  to  open  unto  thee  the  gates  of  Eden, 
to  seat  thee  in  the  assembly  of  pure  souls,  and  may 

*  A  taihoT  of  a  family  adds. 


•n  ' »  n  n    n  D  D  140 

ON  THE  GEAVE  OF  A  WIFE. 

One  married  a  second  time,  must  not  visit  the  grave  of  his  first  wife. 

y02  T)?^p:  *]VDn  on^  n^^y  nnlncp  ^^: 
hrn  npD-i  nii:;;  nlo^pnn-Dy  t]-}!!^!  *pbn 


It:  V 


It        -;  •   T  -  T  ••    :  t    •  tt 

np"iif3  mp:in  h^n  *npn3  np-^^-in  nscy 

It  T  :    •  tI:   •  -  ••  t  It  ••. :  It  r    :  •  t  - 

•  t  -  T  ••    :  T     •  It:-         ■         I  t  :   v  •   t 

T        V   -:  ••  T  T         •   :  T   :  )t  t  t  -:  t  t 

••    T  T  ••  •  )  T  :    V  •     T  T  T 

TT-;-  :  :  •  t-:-tt:' 

nncoy  b^n  niii^i^  :^n-i-Dy  nnjQ  r\vrh  ,br\2r\ 

viv  -:        I-         V  I"  ••   T        •         T  T  T  :  •  T  :   • 

S^?D  nnl^^  n^nm  nn^Dnn  n?oi::^:in  jiynm 

....          J    ^            .....         ^     .    .  _            .^  .J.   .  _     I   .._    .    .  . 
:-i-T      •       :  -:  t  t  :  v      -        t    I     .-  -:  t 

HDiyi  *pTV  nr^^^ODi  p2:^n.p  min  nnmb 


139  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

But  I,  thy  servant,  turn  unto  thee,  that  thou 
mayest  invoke  upon  thy  [son]  [daughter]  the  tender 
mercies  of  God,  that  He  may  vouchsafe  to  hear  the 
voice  of  my  supplication,  when  I  say,  O  Thou  awfully 
sublime  and  holy  God !  extend  Thy  forgiveness,  par- 
don my  transgressions,  and  let  Thine  ineflfable  attri- 
butes prevail!  May  He  who  estabhshes  peace  in 
His  high  heavens  be  gracious  unto  us,  as  in  time  of 
old.  May  He  from  His  celestial  seat  grant  me  daily 
food  and  sustenance,  and  not  be  sUent  unto  my  tears, 
when  in  distress  I  call  upon  the  Eternal  as  a  poor 
and  needy  one.  May  He  be  gi-acious  imto  me  and 
bid  His  benign  messengers :  "Redeem  hiTn  from  going 
down  into  the  grave.  May  his  bread  not  fail,  nor 
should  he  see  corruption."  Grant  that  I  may  be 
worthy  to  behold  children  and  children's  children 
attached  and  devoted  to  Thy  sacred  laws,  to  perfoiTu, 
Thy  commandments,  to  walk  in  the  path  of  upright- 
ness, and  be  adorned  with  the  crown  of  a  good  name 
free  from  sin  and  pui*e  from  guilt. 

May  thy  pious  soul  rest  hi  calm  and  quietude  in 
the  garden  of  Eden,  in  the  cu'cle  of  the  pious  and 
righteous  mothers  in  Israel.  Mayest  thou  be  deemed 
worthy  to  rise  to  everlasting  life,  in  fellowship  with 
all  those  pious,  viii;uous  and  godly  daughters,  to 
stand  for  thy  lot  at  the  end  of  the  days.  May  God 
please  to  do  so.    Amen. 


.D  ' '  n  n    -1  D  D  138 

I  -:••••         t:        V        -—I-      ••-:•:         Ji--:  -     -  t 

nsnn  miD)  mi:  >^:i^  ,na^52  '^yiT\D 

V   :  -  It  :  T  TIT  •  :  T  :  -     -:  - 

•     J       •  :  -:  T         :   •  t  v  t  -:    - :         -i"      • 

'b^  ^nvDi'b^]  *vonn3  jirai  cnbi  is  vdss^d 

•  T  :    •        V :  t  -:  -:    I      t  viv:       t        t  t    • 

-)?o^^^T  ^Jiin^  :c!:^m  ^:y3  -i!?OT"10  ^^^"ips  ,w'^r\^ 

:      T-T  :  TT     •  T  :         -..-).        •     :)t:  —.•:•.• 

mD^  ^<bi  iDnb  -lon^  ^^^i  *  nniz;  mno  in^ns 

T          :          :  -        -   :  V          :           -i-          viv         i"  t  : 
T       -  •  T       ••  :  •  t  :  •        -I"-  •  "I 

T]nD(^j.n^l  iD^p^ip  nWi^iprbpi  *Dyn^i 

"oy  n;nn^  ilDy^  ^Dini  :nn-i^ni  nlii^^npn 
nl:3  nn^pni  onpni  nliiJ^^^  a-^ia^j  nijD^ 

?   't; 


137  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

Tlioii  also,  spii-it  of  my  departed  father,  whose 
dear  memoiy  is  engi-aved  in  the  innermost  chambers 
of  my  heai-t,  may  the  Eternal  fulfil  thy  desires.  May 
thy  soul  soar  up  to  the  thi'one  of  mercy,  to  be  seated 
next  to  our  godly,  pious,  beatified,  perfect  and  up- 
right ancestors,  until  thine  ashes  are  resusciated  to 
everlasting  life,  and  enjoy  heavenly  bliss  allotted  to 
thee  at  the  end  of  the  days.     Amen. 


ON  THE  GEAVE  OF  A  MOTHER. 

Peace  unto  thy  beatified  and  pious  soul,  beloved 
and  affectionate  mother,  who  hast  given  me  bu-th, 
and  who  hast  reared  me.  Thou,  who  hast  loved, 
fostered  and  cherished  me,  and  who  hast  endm-ed 
much  suffering  for  me  all  the  days  of  thy  existence. 
Thou,  whose  maternal  care  has  been  imceasingly 
devoted  to  my  happiness,  whose  eye  so  ardently 
watched  over  my  physical  and  mental  development. 
But,  alas !  since  thou  didst  go  the  way  of  all  flesh, 
I  find  nowhere  a  guide  like  unto  thee.  I  therefore 
have  strengthened  myself  on  my  way,  and  proceeded 
to  the  field  of  weeping,  until  I  came  to  the  house  of 
my  mother,  and  to  the  chamber  of  her  who  bore  me. 
And  lo !  there  I  behold  thine  earthly  remains,  T\Tapt 
in  the  sleep  of  death,  whilst  thy  soul  has  soared 
heavenwards,  and  I  exclaim :  peace  be  imto  thy  soul, 
and  may  thy  repose  bo  in  glory,  thou  blessed  of 
women  !  May  continually  be  verified  in  thee  the 
promise,  Aiise,  sliine,  for  thy  light  is  come,  and  the 
glory  of  the  Eternal  is  risen  upon  thee. 


.□  ' '  n  n    1  D  D  13G 

^2:h  ^^^1)^2  nn^N  -^^m  ,m:o  ^3^?  nn^5  uxi 
"ijsn3  ^rai^J  n6yn>  ,T]^n6v^"^p'b3  ;^  vN^pi 

mTHp^  nlD]?^  nDTHi  anlncpni  a^p^pnni 


ON  THE  GEAVE  OF  A  MOTHER. 

TIT         •        :  -        T  :  ri-T       t       •       ::-:•;       I      -    :t  : 

'h2  7(112  DDbn  -^m  uvd  nrw)  :  tti^d  -h 

t      )  viv:      :  :  -  t        v  -:  •  t  -  :  ;•  i-t  • 

••        t  :        •  J       T        VIV  •  T-:  :    •  1   vit  t 

•   TT  :        -IT  •  :  •  •  T  V       :  :  -    •• 

nnm  ^rh^m  n^Dib  ^^n  mm  *^mln  imbi 

t:  t:-         t  •         "•:  -t  viv  : 

abt)  rh  iDh^  ,^m2^)  .nbv^b  nnby 

t   :        Jt  t  •     :i-  t  :  t   :  i-  :  t   :  t 

,Tr)2ir\  Sl^D  rrmr^  ^rp^^^^b  uhm  TjnmjQ^ 

J  T     :        VIT  •  t  •         I  ••  T  :    •  :  t  ;     )  ••  t       :  • 

*T]ni^<  t>:p  ^2  nic-<  •'pip  ,T]^^^y  np^^"^  Tr^n] 

T         v:v        J  ••:  -       •  -:       •  :  t:  •      ri-  t     t: 


135  THE  BOOK    OF  LIFE. 

morning  star,  and  that  my  liealth  may  spring  fortli 
speedily. 

I  beseech  Thee,  Sovereign  of  the  Universe !  Heal 
me,  and  I  shall  be  healed.  Save  me,  and  I  shall  be 
saved.  Deal  with  me  bountiftdly,  for  the  sake  of 
Thy  name.  I  pray  Thee,  do  comfort  me,  and  forsake 
me  not.  May  Thy  Di-sdne  Pro^ddence  be  continually 
watching  over  .me  for  my  good.  Prosper  all  my  oc- 
cupations, and  bestow  Thy  paternal  blessings  on  all 
the  works  of  my  hands.  Deign  to  enlighten  mine 
eyes  in  Thy  commandments,  and  attach  my  heart 
unto  Thy  law.  Let  evil  imagination  have  no  dominion 
over  me ;  may  I  neither  fall  into  the  power  of  sin, 
nor  be  allm'ed  by  temptation.  Teach  me  to  conquer 
the  one  and  to  resist  the  other.  Father  in  Heaven! 
imbue  my  heart  with  salutary  counsels,  and  frustrate 
all  evil  designs  against  me.  Rescue  me  fi'om  a  bad 
man,  fi-om  a  severe  judge  and  an  implacable  accuser, 
from  a  hardened  and  bold  foe,  fi-om  seducers,  from 
evil  associates,  fi'om  wicked  neighbors,  fi'om  mishaps, 
and  from  disastrous  occurrences  which  threaten  to 
befall  us  in  this  transient  world.  Deign  that  the 
number  of  my  years  may  be  fulfilled  in  happiness 
and  ease.  May  the  day  of  my  death  be  as  the  day 
of  my  birth :  free  from  sin,  and  unstained  by  iniqui- 
ties, guilt  and  ungodliness.  Grant  that  my  soul  may 
be  treasured  up  in  the  treasures  of  everlasting  life. 
Cleanse  me  in  the  day  of  retribution,  and  justify  me 
in  Thy  judgment.  I  beseech  Thee,  O  Eternal,  hear 
the  voice  of  my  prayer,  and  grant  my  request  and 
supplication  for  the  sake  of  Thine  infinite  mercy. 
Amen. 


.n  ' '  n  n    n  d  d  134 

TIT        -     ■  :    -  T"  :         •  T       -;-         •  -|-  -       |-t- 

•  I-    •  ••    T-- :       t:        •  I"  t    :  •  t        t      I         •      t: 

^yi2n2r\  ^:i^  ,riDt^  \vr2h  nnn  ^?3y  nm  ^Wi^i 

•I"  -:-  :         TIT        I IV  :      I  —  :  •.  i-. -;      -!••  t  •  : 

T        :  •  T      -  T       I  :  T  t  :    -        v  :    •  :       •  •• ;  —  -  : 

••  -;-:  T   t:  -iv   I  •• :       -  t:  •         t  :        •  -    •    :  -  ; 

r?ni  ,^m  n.^^  i<lD^  ^5^c^  yin  na;.  ^r:o.*?i^n 
-•byD  D^yn  niivb  ism  ,nDl^  r\m  ^3^3 

-  T  ••  •    t  :       t  •■  t  :  ..... 

c^:s  ]Vj2)  ns^i^  pi  H^y^pi  n^p^  p-np  ^jb^^ni 
n  nnpppi  yn  p^pi  yn  n^npi  yi_  nn^pT 
t^Vrom  D^ly':'  ^^iDb  nlc!:^j"in:3n  nlyn  nlyti^^-^^ai 

••-:  TT  T  ;-:•-  t  7  t- 

•t-  ••         T  T-:  t:-t-:- 

:   •  •    :  -         -it:  V    ivt  t  :       -  :      It: 

t<:^5  :  cosra^  ^2pi)i)  pin  ars  -'jpji  w^nn 

tit  t     :    •  -         •)••:-:     I      •  -  ;  -li— : 

.   _  i_  _        .  _  ..  .  ..        ...-:-:       •  t   •    :        |         -    ;     •     t: 


T  It  -        •  T   • 


^^  rut 
,     or 


133  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

ON  VISITING  THE  GEAVE  OF  A  FATHER 

Peace  be  iiiito  thee,  my  honored  father  and  in- 
structor, my  glory  and  my  delight !  May  thy  bones 
rest  in  the  grave  in  peace,  and  thy  spirit  be  brought 
up  to  everlasting  life.  My  soul  still  clings  to  thee 
Tvith  filial  love,  duty  and  affection.  The  sacred 
bonds  between  me  and  thee  are  not  severed.  I  know 
that  peace  is  in  thy  tabernacle  of  clay,  and  that  thy 
soul  has  soared  heavenward  to  the  angelic  abode  of 
blissfulness,  under  the  protection  of  the  Most  High, 
and  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty.  But,  alas  1 
I,  where  am  I  to  find  rest,  and  ■wdth  what  shall  I 
comfort  myself.  Thy  whole  earthly  existence  has 
been  devoted  to  my  welfare,  to  my  physical  and 
mental  improvement.  All  my  wants  depended  on 
thee,  thou  hast  enlightened  mine  eyes  in  the  Divine 
Law :  thou  hast  guarded  my  steps  and  strengthened 
my  hands  in  the  service  of  God,  and  hast  refrained 
my  feet  from  walking  in  the  way  of  sinners.  But 
my  glory  has  gone  from  me ;  I  am  left  alone,  without 
a  guide,  without  a  teacher.  Alas !  the  righteous  is 
taken  away,  and  his  son  is  forsaken. 

I  do,  therefore,  approach  this  awful  and  holy  spot, 
the  shrine  that  contains  thy  sacred  ashes,  and  with 
a  contrite  spirit  do  I  lift  up  mine  eyes  to  God  on  high, 
the  God  of  salvation  and  consolation,  to  implore  His 
infinite  mercy,  that  He  may  deign  to  send  me  a  true 
help,  because  of  His  unbounded  compassion.  And 
thou,  soul  of  my  departed,  beatified  father,  do  sup- 
port mo  wdth  thy  fervent  prayer  and  invoke  iipon  mo 
the  mercy,  the  love  of  Him  who  ridetli  upon  the 
heavens,  so  that  my  light  may  break  forth  as  the 


•D  ' '  n  n    ~)  E3  D  132 

ON  VISITING  THE  GEAYE  OF  A  FATHEE. 

^mm  ^vi  "lin  .m?2i  ^d^?  ^Jn^5  rnbv  uh^ 

•  T  -:-      •  •  •  •   T         •       -;        )iv  T  7 

T        •        •    :  i-t:  t-         t       t  -      ..  - ;  7,7 

HDOT  .T]nr:i;:^j  nrhv  rhvr2  rhv^i  ^rhn^ 

V  IV  )ivT    :    ■  t:  T  T  :  i-         t  :  i-  )ivt:  t 

T :  i-  :  •        •       I  ivT       T  ••-:•.•         t  -       -it         t  :  v: 

.  _.  .    T         ),._.^       _      .  TIT  :  -        T : 

:  •  -  :        -    ••        V        T    ;i-  ••  t       -         -         )iv 

rpij2)  .n;n^  ""np^ri  ;•'.  niinra  ,^dj;d  npun 

•     •  :  -      ):      T  :  i-  T         t  -:         t  :    -        v       t  ;  -  t  -  t 

"Tpjp-bv  TOn*^v^5T  ,^m2  T]jibp  Dlpp^i  ^n^i_^; 
i3?3m  nvw^n  )b  ^m  un^  -^rib^b  -^y^v  xm') 

IV  •  T        :-  V  -:  J       ....       -   ..  ^  ..  . 

:^j^5DT  )iDr\y\  pjiJ'^t^v  ann  Nim  ^n^on^n 

•i"T     :  •  :    -  :  .  ,-.    .  -  .  ^  t..  _ 


131  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

AU-mercifal  Father !  grant  me  help  and  strength 
to  carry  out  this  determination.  Give  me  a  firm 
mind,  that  I  may  not  waver.  Remove  from  before 
me  vice  and  temptation.  Grant  that  my  whole  life 
be  devoted  to  serve  Thee  with  a  j^erfect  heart,  and 
to  revere  thy  great  name.  Deign  that  I  may  qnit 
my  earthly  abode  with  a  good  name,  followed  by 
pious  actions,  and  accompanied  by  humane  and 
benevolent  deeds.  Grant  that  the  pious  spirit  of 
my  [father]  [mother]  may  approach  Thy  glorious 
throne,  and  invoke  Thy  tender  mercy  on  [him]  [her], 
on  me  and  on  aU  that  belong  to  me.  IMay  the  pious 
deeds  which  [he]  [she]  performed,  whilst  alive, 
appear  before  Thy  heavenly  seat,  and  be  accepted 
as  the  sweet  savoui'  of  the  frankincense.  Fountain 
of  mercy !  give  ear  to  [his]  [her]  prayers,  in  wliich 
[he]  [she]  beseeches  Thy  sacred  name  to  bestow  on 
[his]  [her]  descendants  a  long,  blessed  and  happy 
life.  [Beloved  father]  [affectionate  mother],  lift  up 
thy  voice  to  Him  who  is  tremendous  in  work,  that 
He  may  render  me  tmly  happy,  and  change  my 
mourning  into  joy  and  gladness ;  that  Ho  may  shower 
down  upon  me  His  heavenly  blessings,  and  cause 
me  to  behold  the  consolation  of  Zion,  His  glorious 
residence,  and  of  Jerusalem,  His  holy  city,  at  the 
time  when  He  vdU.  resuscitate  all  those  who  sleep  in 
dust,  and  who  wait  for  the  day  of  everlasting  felicity 
and  glory.     Amen. 


•D  » '  n  n    "1  D  D  130 

m^n  yr\  irby  .nm  '^^^  r\^  by)  n^p 

TT  T         T-      I  ••        -  T   T  V  -:  ••        -  :-        V  It 

T         -       -T         V  -;  t:        t:  •  :        ■•-:■: 

"•ID  Tjnn^o  IDT  D?  "in  y"';in3  d30«  .ui^n 

I  :    T     •  VI"  -  I-  - :         T  :   T  tt  t 

t5i?  ^i2^b  rvr^in^)  whb^  rroi^  ,r{:m  n:^ 

••  T  T  v:  v:  •      v;  t  :  :  v:         t  -    :         t  t 

)  ■•  -:  -T  T   T  T-  T-  T     V 

bjpn  n.T  DV)  .'73n  yp]  -ipin  ^:sb  Dp:sn 
nbDt<5i  ,nDnbi  n^^ii''  i;:^^  ^^^  <nDlnn  ddd 

T  :  t:  t  TV  :  t   :  t  ••  v  -;  t        -  ••  • 

bcsDb  Dvn  ni  ■'D  DP  ^i^^DJn  ^nin^o  ♦niDi  ^  bys 

..  _.  _        ...  )         •    :   -:        •     :i-  T  :  t    ••  :  - 

nbi^n  D^pjni  *D%yo  mBp^2  op^Bn  -iips 
p_pb  ♦  nj^-jvi  nlpDHi  nDisL^PD  D'^wi  onsu 

)t  t       t       -v  •        ••  -    .        T    -        V     I"  T    — :••     1     -t 

I   "T  :         T        -         •    :  -    :  -  T  -        t:       •   t:       t         -: 

.nDi  rhv^b  ^in^sri  ♦np-i5i  ^b  n^m^)  ntv^b 

T    T     T   -;-  :       )-:•:-:         it   t:      •      tiv  :    :  -;        v  -:- : 

r\r\  nyD  ^m  nn^?T  :n^r^  ^D^^brso  nbyob 

T    ■        •  -;-         t     •  T  -  :  t      -;      ••-::-•         t  -:  - : 

u^'y^  .rh-hv  t^ii:i  nby-bs  nbyb  nbcm 

•TV  T    •  -:  T     ;  T   •        T  •    •  :  t  •    : 

•  :  V       )       -:-:         tiv        t  -        t   :  |- :        •  t-      -    \- :—. 

r\nb)in)  hdid  ^^d-^dd  ^:d"iti  ♦nbniji  ]w^b 

t  T   :  -  :        T    t:       ••    •         t  :       •!••  -:t   •  t  t:  t  :    1        t   : 

\v)i  non:2  ^:on:^i  ^nnoc^i  c^m  riDlcoi 

I      .  -  T  V :  I — :-    •  T  :    •  :  •  -  :  t        : 

■PP'lI  \p!?  ^/'l^b  "ioyni  nun  nnxi  :D:,"?i2'nT 

'7|DX 


129  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

more  see  thj  venerable  and  dignified  countenance; 
my  ear  no  more  hears  thy  sweet,  tender  and  affection- 
ate instruction,  and  thy  consoling  words.  Thou  art 
gone  to  eternity,  and  I,  imhappy  one,  have  [no  father] 
[no  mother]  on  earth  to  guide  my  steps  and  to  direct 
my  counsels.  Alas!  my  heart  breaks  because  of 
grief,  and  my  eyes  suffuse  and  melt  with  tears  because 
of  my  sins.  Never,  never  shall  I  see  thee  on  earth ! 
I  Yet,  be  not  cast  down,  thou  my  soul !  I  shall  again 
behold  thee  [beloved  father]  [affectionate  mother] 
in  yonder  celestial  abode,  where  thou  now  art  re- 
posing, in  the  presence  of  thy  heavenly  Maker.3 
Blessed  soul  of  my  [father]  [mother] !  How  gi-eat  is 
my  dehght  in  hoping  to  be  eternally  with  thee,  with- 
out fear  of  a  sorrowftd  separation. 

I  do,  therefore,  on  this  solemn  day  of  the  anni- 
versary of  thy  earthly  departure,  here,  at  the  sacred 
shrine  that  contains  thy  mortal  remains,  fidly  deter- 
mine to  regulate  and  improve  my  fatiu-e  days,  so 
that  I  may  render  myself  worthy  of  enduring  thy 
glorious  presence  on  that  great  and  awful  day  of  the 
Eternal,  when  the  hearts  of  children  will  be  restored 
to  parents.  I  sincerely  determine  to  walk  in  the 
path  of  rectitude,  piety  and  wtue.  I  will  never 
desecrate  thy  unsidlied  name,  or  profane  thy  dear 
memory  by  an  ungodly  action. 


.D  ' '  n  n    1  D  D  128 

-  I-:  ••.  V  — ;  -  T   T      -:        Ivr-  t       I    ••  "^  "^  '■» 

T  :   •    :   V  T  -;  -       ••        :         t         t    :    •  7  t         :   • 

V"1^?b  njn:  p-^y  ♦  httoi  jli^n  ^^3  n -^i^sn 

I   viT  T  tt:I-'        -  T':        I         T-:         t         ;- 

D)^D  ("TTHD  rhv2  r\vr\b  ,p)ii3n  n?jn  T]lnD 
♦  n:i?OiN?D  npoyji^  31:0  nb  d^i^^^t  n:iip  nnn^ 

T       v:-.-         It;   T  V  t        ••  -  :  t  :|-  •  t: 

^5^-1  ^D  Dbivn  \D  iD  m^^  nn^  non^  ^^"^  q:t 

T         T      )  •  :  TT    •         T    •  :  ■■    J  ■.  -. 

nhvjB  nn?^  rhm  n^rp  ^r\2'b2-bv  rhiv 

•    :  T   •  :  -1-  TT    T    :  T    :   -:  t  :    •    : 

5^;iDpi  myp  ^^npn  1123  ^jppi  lD-)y3  nnpn 

^SP'-?  ,lD1il  -IDDH]  -iy^3  -iriDI   .  ^1p2  )D)iV 

nv2  .m^^}2  TSDH  HJD^  ,^5")lnDD  ni2^: 

I    vi- :  T  •    :  .  -  -  -  :  •  :  t       :  t  t    : 

□nlnpi  D^ci^npn  nlbyps  -'DK^ni  .nvsi  □^"ib^?  [^ 
nnijs  n^^  nnnif  ♦onsi^^i  on^om  op-'i^ 

:   •  :   -  T       :  •  T     •  .    .    _._  I  •      •  - 

^:np]y  nci^^  um  ^;^)  .u^p)  ^n  ^^:  b2^r\2  D^^nn 

T]^?  :^:D^^rh  TjDicsai  ,^ jdi^  n^;n  rhiy  ^3  .r^hv 
n^32in  T^D^-^^b^^  D^r2)r\:r\^2pb  ^]n  kn  m-) 

T  -       -T         :  V  :  -      -I-;  •  t  I 


127  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

heaven,  so  let  thy  beatified  immortal  spirit  appear 
.before  Him  to  implore  mercy  upon  us  on  earth. 

And  Thou,  O  God,  in  whose  hand  are  the  souls  of 
the  living  and  the  dead,  may  He  deign  to  hear  our 
united  prayers,  and  remove  from  me  and  from  all 
my  relatives  and  friends  every  evil  decree.  May 
our  prayers  ascend  Thy  glorious  throne,  and  dismiss 
us  not  fruitlessly  from  Thy  presence.  Surely  Thou 
wilt  rejoice  the  soul  of  Thy  servant  and  bless  liim 
from  Thy  blessings,  and  grant  that  we  may  be  worthy 
to  behold  Thine  everlasting  felicity.     Amen. 


ON  THE  ANNIVEKSAKT  OF  THE  DEATH 
OF  PAEENTS.  (Jahrzeit.) 

Peace,  peace  to  thee  [beloved  father]  [affectionate 
mother] ;  peace  be  to  thy  pious  soul,  that  heavenly 
spark  from  the  eternal  flame,  that  now  rests  with 
God.  Peace  to  thy  ashes  that  repose  here.  Yerily, 
with  thee  reigns  peace ;  mth  me,  alas !  is  grief  and 
sorrow.  For  since  thou  hast  gone  from  me,  true  joy 
has  almost  forsaken  me.  Daily  does  my  anguish 
grow  stronger;  with  the  increase  of  time  I  more 
keenly  feel  what  I  have  lost  in  thee,  thou  purified 
soul,  whose  life,  whose  actions,  whose  longing,  whoso 
ardent  affection  have  entirely  and  solely  been  de- 
voted to  my  weal  and  happiness.  ,  But,  alas !  it  has 
pleased  God,  in  His  inscrutable  wisdom,  to  deprive 
mo  of  the  crown  of  my  glory.     My  eye  does   no 


.D  ' '  n  n    "1  D  D  126 

:  Ti^Dinp-^'sai  •'ijso  •b2D^  ^:i?2d  niyn  nnu 

Jit      ):  t   •         -iv  •  t  •        •  v  •  t  ••: 

.^^1•'2  D^nani  o^'nn  tpsj  -ic^s  ^■^"7^<  nnxi 

nvT:            .  ..  -  .           .  —  ..,..        ..  _.        -     ...         y  _  . 

)    IVT-;         viv         V         :      -  f  -  j  jvt  ;    •  It    •• 

:T]pbiy  nplcop  nlN*)^  ♦Tj^nD'isp  tj^^izv  rp^^ 


ON  THE  ANNIVEBSARY  OF  THE  DEATH 
OF  PAEENTS.  (Jahrzeit.) 

It       -.-  ••  •• :  T       :  T    T  :         )i—  T  T 

:  -     I  •  Tiv  ••  T  •  T     :  Itt    : 

T-:|-  -t:-  't:-  ::-.•: 

Diiv.  ♦  Q'l'^l  ^''i^^itp  v^'^i  m^jnnp  nm^i  ^;p3 
D^ib^^i  V">^5  'Q"'P?2  '^i"ipi  "lin^D  t^^i  ^idj 

••  :     I    viv       ••    :l-  •  It:  t  •  t  :  • 

-in^D  DH^^n  n^in  Qip  moly  nn:iDi  ,nnDiiy:D 

T  V  :  TT  T        -T-:        vl  VIV  vv      :         -I —    : 

b^n  ^^on  T\y\  ♦hiddj  dhot  dto  ^5d^o 


T  T   : 


T  •  -  ;  -  :  T   •    :     -  •  •  ••  v:v  t 


125  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

preach  tremblingly  thy  grave,  for  I  love  thee  mth 
an  everlasting  love.  Hither  have  I  repaired,  to  pour 
out  my  heart  in  prayer  before  the  God  of  all  spirits, 
to  bestow  on  thy  soul  His  infinite  and  tender  mercies, 
to  delight  thee  in  the  garden  of  Eden,  and  to  gladden 
thee  with  His  pure  and  celestial  joy  amongst  thy 
departed  and  beatified  forefathers. 

0  may  the  God  of  glory,  in  His  unbounded  com- 
passion, take  thee  under  His  divine  protection,  and 
grant  thee  falness  of  joy  and  unclouded  glory,  from 
the  abundance  of  good  which  He  hath  in  secret  laid 
up  for  the  righteous  and  virtuous,  and  to  refresh  and 
strengthen  thy  weary  and  languishing  bones  in  the 
graves,  as  the  heavenly  dew  revives  the  drooping  and 
withered  plants. 

1  feel  that  the  sympathy  which  thou  hast  felt,  and 
the  attachment  thou  hast  cherished  for  me,  whilst 
alive  on  earth,  have  neither  become  chilled  by  separa- 
tion nor  extinct  by  death ;  and  as  I  now  pour  out  my 
heart  and  soul  for  thee  to  the  merciful  Father  in 


.n  ' '  n  n    "i  d  d  124 

;?   f^!?pnD  Tj^niD^c  ♦Tj^nlD^.  nyop;  av 
iDBD  y^3c::^n^  .rrrh^  V'^2mb jrrk^'rh^m 

-  I-    :    -  :  r  -     v:       -r  :     -  :       I  ivv:  t:      -    :  v  : 

n5:<  c;i  iTjnvnnS  a^ran  n  inn  pi 

•    T       -:         :     •  T  -.•-;-  I  iv  :   -  -   t  :   • 

"'1^5  ^.^?pn^  *  "^''HD  ^D^n^^   n^^n   nsp^^tD 

♦  TjnDp^p];  D^cpnS  ^pnb.'^^.V'i'^I^nnn^i 
n^35lcs'ri~b  rron]  ncpi  -TjnDp  ^py 


123  THE   BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

{Reader.)  May  abundance  of  peace  and  happy 
life  be  bestowed  upon  us  and  upon  all  Israel,  and 
say  ye :  Amen. 

{Cong.)  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Eternal  from 
henceforth  and  for  evermore. 

{Reader.)  May  He  who  establisheth  peace  in  His 
high  heavens,  grant,  through  His  mercy,  peace  to  us 
and  all  Israel,  and  say  ye :  Amen. 

{Cong.)  My  relief  is  from  the  Eternal,  who  made 
the  heaven  and  earth. 


PRAYERS  AT  THE  GRAVES. 


AT  THE  GEAVES  OF  VAKIOUS  KELATIVES. 

Arise,  O  my  soul !  elevate  thyself  to  thy  God  in 
heaven.  Say  thou  unto  the  Eternal :  Thou  art  my 
Lord ;  naught  excelleth  Thee.  As  to  the  holy  that 
are  in  the  land,  and  the  mighty  nobles  in  them,  are 
all  my  deHghts. 

Glory  to  the  most  Holy  One  (blessed  be  He). 
Peace  to  thine  ashes,  and  glory  to  thy  soul.  [Here 
menti(m  the  name  and  relationship  of  the  deceased,  as, 
for  instance:  hrotJier,  sister,  uncle,  or  aunt.]     1  ap- 


•D  ' '  n  n    ■)  c  D  122 

!••  T              •                     •  - ;         T-  :      I    •  T    -        T  T    : 

T              -   :        T  -  ••      r  T       :       T :  ••        ■    : 

'bv)  u^':5y  Dlbiiy  nc^^y  ^^in  vdI-idd  di':':^^  nt!;y 

-:         I"  T             TV-;-                   T  :    •              t 

I  ••  T  :    •  :        ••    t:    •       t 

'     VT  T          •  -    T           ••             Tj          •    ••  •;  V 


Dnspn  b:;  m^nn 


AT  THE  GEAVES  OF  VARIOUS  KELATIVES. 

:Ti^bi?-^3  ^riDto  nnv^  ^jn^5  nln^^  n"^Q5^ 

I  IV  T       -  •  T     1  T  T        T     -;         T       i-       :    :  -     T 

T 

nny  ^nvND   jD^Sy  ^n^<3  p"by  :T]^^D^^< 

T  -  •       IT       I  ••  -        •     IT    )••        -        I   I-  :  -    -: 


121  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  with  all  the  departed 
of  Thy  people  Israel.     Amen. 


After  the  recital  of  the  prayer,  the  following  Kaddish, 
(pi-nz^-^np),  issaid: 

May  the  great  name  of  the  Eternal  be  exalted  and 
sanctified  throughout  all  the  world  which  He  created 
according  to  His  will;  and  may  He  estabhsh  His 
kingdom  in  your  life-time  and  in  your  days,  and  in 
the  life-time  of  the  whole  house  of  Israel,  speedily 
and  without  delay,  and  say  ye :  Amen. 

{Cong.)  Amen,  May  His  omnipotent  name  be 
blessed,  for  ever  and  ever,  throughout  the  world. 


r 


{Reader.)  May  His  hallowed  name  be  praised, 
glorified,  extolled,  magnified  and  honored,  and  most 
excellently  adored  in  expressions  far  suqjassing  all 
blessings,  hymns,  praises  and  comforts,  that  can  be 
expressed  in  the  world,  and  say  ye :  Amen.     J 

Unto  Israel,  their  masters,  their  disciples  and  all 
their  successors,  who  assiduously  study  the  holy 
law,  who  are  in  this  and  every  other  place ;  may 
there  be  fulness  of  peace,  favor  and  mercy,  com- 
passion, long  and  happy  hfe,  ample  sustenance,  and 
redemption  from  all  evil,  from  the  presence  of  the 
Sovereign  of  heaven  and  earth,  both  to  them  and 
you,  and  say  ye :  Amen. 


.D  ' '  n  n    'I  D  D  120 


After  the  recital  of  the  prayer,  the  following  Kaddish, 
(pD-n  ^^np)  is  said: 

"•iira  pD^pi^Di  iD^.'ins  nnDbp  t]''^p:i  nniyi? 
:jp^  npi^l  D^jp  )ppi  ^bm  bm^\  n^s  bpi 
*><:^oby  ^D^ybi  abyb  "n-iDD  ^53*1  naii^  ?<n'' 

T  -  :  T       ••  :  T  :  -  T :        >  -t  :         t  -        ••  :  ••  : 

-^"nrin^.1  ^^l^^n-ii  Dpnn^"!  ^^Bm  nsni:^:!  T]-}3n^ 

T  ••  :  I      • :  T     :  1      :  ••  :  t   -  :   • :        v  -  :   • ; 

j>?nDn:i  s^nnsn^^n  ^^ni^sL'i  s^nDis-SriD 

T  T   :  V  :  T  T  :    :     ••.  t   t    •    :  t  t     :  •  t    J  • 

:]m  r\m)  ^r}bv2  ]yD^i 

T        -:1  ..    ..-        -:      Itt-      -:        "t:- 

rjy\  ]vmy  xip^]  ^p  >^?}  >^^bp  ])Db) 

}1^^^5  anj^'jp  ^^fjisi  ^^n^l"i.  s^^lipi  ]'3'1^ 
:  ]btf  np^^^i  ^5pvNt^  ^5^pIz;•^ 


119  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

Thou,  merciful  God,  pardon  and  forgive  [Mm] 
[her]  all  [his]  [her]  iniquities,  for  surely  there  is 
not  a  just  person  upon  earth,  who  doeth  good  and 
sinneth  not;  but  remember  unto  [him]  [her]  the 
meritorious  and  benevolent  deeds  of  [his]  [her]  hfe. 

O  gracious  Father,  grant  in  Thine  infinite  mercy 
that  the  mortal  frame  and  decayed  bones,  whilst  in 
the  grave,  may  partake  of  Thine  endless  bounty, 
vouchsafed  unto  [his]  [her]  immortal  soul,  of  the 
goodness  treasured  up  for  the  righteous,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  divine  psalmist:  "O  how  great  Thy 
goodness  which  Thou  hast  laid  up  for  those  who 
fear  Thee.  And  again  it  is  said:  "He  who  keepeth 
aU  his  bones,  not  one  of  them  is  broken."  O  gi'ant 
that  the  departed  may  dweU  safely,  in  quietude,  free 
from  the  terror  of  evil,  from  the  presence  of  DiiT^a. 
May  [his]  [her]  soul  be  bound  up  m  the  bundle  of 
life  everlasting,  and  quicken  [liim]  [her]  at  the  time 


•D  ' '  n  n    ~)  D  D  118 

-  :    •  :         -    :    •           t  t  -  :     •  :         -  :     ■              t  t 

T  IV  t:         t-          t  tt;         t 

n^n?DT  n':^— IDT!)  ^^^on-^  rni^DT  ibnDri  ,^5Con^ 

T   IV      ••. :       T         T :         IT  v;v  T      ••. :                t  :            itv:v 

T  :     T       V  -:    T    IV  )      :  ■  :  t  t           •.•  -:           t    I     :  •  : 

tt:--            t        -|--.    -:  t;--                    -•:       -; 

i?p3  n-'niDvy  y^i?  131^53  vr\)mv  ji^i'7 

'Q'p'l V^ i^S V^  31CDD"1P  D^p''n^b  jiD^n  Dro  DIP 

Di  n:^  ,DinDiiy  iOD  d-^  n^o  ^didd::;  Iqd 

-  T                   T  •••               :  -             t                  t   -.- 

n:D!i — is:^>?  "Hdico  n:sii — \i£^5^  ?idico 

T  :  -  T               V     -:           )  :  t  :  -  t               v     -:           I   :       i 

T :         I   -.-   -•    I-  -                   T :         I  •.-    ••    I- 

T-  ■•               -    -             T          :     -            T  T    ■•  ••              -    -             -                -            T 

n^D  i2m)  ,ni2\/:}:  ^'■)  n:oD  {di:!:^^!  ,n-iDii:^:  sX"b 

-  IV  I      :     •  :        TIT  :    -  -  iv    I      :    •:          tit  :    • 

T  T       -|-  •    I  — :  -  :         TT  T  t       -  i-  •      I — :  -  :         tt 

T      :           •    :             T  T    :    • :  t       :           •     :              t  :    •  ; 

nnrnnbi  u^^nn  -ini^D  )r\vnr\b)  D^^nn  -inaD 


117  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

After  the  "  learning"  of  the  Talmudical  portion,  the  following 
prayer  is  to  be  pronounced : 

"We  beseech  Thee,  O  Eternal,  most  merciful  King, 
in  whose  hand  is  the  soul  of  every  living  being,  and 
the  breath  of  aU  flesh ;  may  our  meditation  on  Thy 
sacred  law  and  prayer  on  behalf  of  the  soul  of  the 
departed  {here  the  name  of  the  deceased  is  mentioned) 
be  acceptable  in  Thy  presence.  Requite  unto  her 
according  to  the  bounty  of  Thine  infinite  kindness. 
O  open  unto  her  the  gates  of  mercy  and  compassion 
which  lead  to  the  garden  of  Eden,  and  receive  her 
in  loving  kindness.  Send  unto  her  Thy  holy  minis- 
tering angels  to  bear  her  to,  and  to  seat  her  beneath 
the  tree  of  life  ;  there  to  join  the  souls  of  the  right- 
eous, vh'tuous  and  pious ;  there  to  feast  in  the 
brightness  of  Thy  glory,  and  satisfy  her  with  Thy 
bounty,  treasured  up  for  the  just.  O  may  even  the 
body  of  the  departed  repose  in  peace,  in  gladness,  in 
joy,  as  vouchsafed  by  Thy  holy  prophet :  "  He  shall 
enter  into  peace.  They  shall  rest  on  their  couches, 
each  one  who  walketh  uprightly."  And  as  it  is  pre- 
dicted by  the  inspired  Psalmist :  "  Let  the  pious  be 
joyfal  in  Glory;  let  them  sing  aloud  upon  their 
couches."  And  as  it  is  promised  by  the  wisest  of 
kings:  "  when  thou  liest  down  thou  shalt  not  fear, 
and  thy  sleep  shall  be  sweet." 


.n  ' '  n  n    -I  D  D  116 

After  the  "  learning"  of  the  Talmudical  portion,  the  following 
prayer  is  to  be  pronounced : 

tD:  TIT2  "i^^5  ,D^onn  ^br2  ti^d  ^^  t^j^N? 

viv       I   :t  :  V    -;  •  -:  -  ••  t         1  viv     t:  t  t 

Ti^^^b  liai^  ^5r^-i^  ,^^^  "ira-b  nm  ^n-^D 

liv  T  :      I        t;         t       •  :  •         -    :        t      -     i:        t        t 

^2  ^3ibB)  r\m^  nays  lan-^sm  unnin  "no^n 

-    :  •  -:  -         I--T    •    :  I"    T  :    - 

nlHDb  bnn  "niDHD  n^by  ^rbi^ji  (,n-DibQ  ma  if, 

-     I    :  •  T  -        \    :  :    -  :     T   IV  T        t         t  : 

^2pni  rpy  ]a  'ly^i^l  "ipni  D^pni  ny^  r\b 

I :  -       I  I  -.•  T :    -        T         -    :  T  •   :        T  -:  -  :  t 

r\)'Dp;  b)i^  D^^nn  yy  nnn  n^iz^^inbi  nD^bln^ 
.nn^pnni  Dn;pnn  n?:j^-i^ni  CD-'jTi^n 
]mn  rp\m  :;:ynn^  '"^nrpi^  r-ip  nUn^ 

)  IV  T         V  T  :  -  I  T    •    :    - :  ) .      .  _  _ 

••  T  •  :       ••  T"  :  -1-;  T  :      I  -     • :  t    : 

0^5^  ^^1D^  >y\n3^  lOD  ,)22^^}2  ]n^  ^b) 

T  T  TV  ;  T   :     •    ■         -    :t 

:    :  -  T :  I      :         !••  t       :  :    •         -  t 

T  :  T        :    :    •         -         -.i-:  t  :  •    •  -: 

iTin:^  HDiyi  r\22^)  -insn  ^^b  D^ii^^n 

)  V  T  :  T    :  t:     -  :  -|T  :        t  :    •  ~  ;    • 


115  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

D'B'VDi  maa  ^jd^  n^n  nrn  d^i^d  D-.NtJ  |'n  p  ^v  :NDn 
t?Di  .N3n  n'piy^  n;?'?  ipinan  nicn  nri:'^  nDri^'  hd  d'3id 

:nnDLy  'j-iTNm  'ptf  nnriD  'tJ  tJinob  hddd  riDsn  dtidt 


Man  shotdd,  therefore,  as  long  as  lie  abides  on 
earth,  endeavor  to  fulfil  the  commandments  of  the 
Eternal,  and  practise  \Trtue  and  piety,  in  order  to 
render  himself  deser^ang  of  the  great  reward  stored 
up  for  the  righteous  in  the  future  world.  Bear 
therefore  thou,  my  devout  brother  and  sister,  every 
vicissitude  sent  by  heaven,  with  pious  resignation, 
fortitude  and  filial  submission !  Look  upon  them  as 
visitations  sent  by  an  aU-wise  and  divine  Providence, 
which  destines  thine  improvement.  Acknowledge 
that  the  heavenly  Father  is  the  most  high  and  true 
Judge,  and  He  will  surely  change  all  evil  decrees 
pending  over  thee  into  grace  and  mercy,  and  thou 
wilt  ultimately  exclaim  joyously  in  the  words  of  the 
royal  bard :  "  Thou  hast  turned  my  -^yailing  tones 
from  me  into  dancing  glees ;  thou  hast  put  off  my 
sackcloth,  and  gkdled  me  with  gladness." 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  114 

niotyjn  ]'ii^  DtyDi  '.ail  noipa  rh  n^n  ni^ND  ]vh:;r\  pya 
HD  Dn3  ]\s  p  .n:n  D^iy^  ixnt:'  amp  niQt?E'3  F]'Din^ 

]pnn  N3n  D^iyn  'jd3  -inins^  nnn  n:n  ohyn  .Dpv  '3-i 
nVB'  HD'  "iDiN  iTH  NiH  :  ybpiob  D2-2r\'^  'ID  "ininDn  pay 
HD'i  .nin  D^iy  "n  bo  xnn  Dt'iy^  nn  n-np  b\i/  nnx 
D^iy  "n  ^Q  n:n  nbw2  d'did  d'1£';;d2i  nnrz'nn  nna  nvtt' 

more  gloriously  in  the  celestial  spheres ;  there  she 
enjoys  higher  fehcity  in  the  garden  of  Eden,  in  the 
abode  of  true  gladness  and  everlasting  felicity.  But 
as  well  as  the  soul,  before  she  has  been  sent  down 
to  occupy  the  house  of  clay,  cannot  render  herself 
more  perfect,  or  to  elevate  herself  to  a  higher  degree, 
or  to  add  aught  to  her  primitive  dignity,  in  a  like 
manner  is  the  soul  unable  to  attain  a  higher  per- 
fection, or  to  render  herself  worthy  of  a  subHmer 
state,  after  having  quitted  this  world  for  that  to 
come.  This  idea  is  very  laconically  and  aptly  ex- 
pressed by  Eabbi  Jacob.  This  world,  says  the 
Rabbi,  may  be  compared  to  a  vestibule  before  the 
future  world ;  prepare  thyself,  therefore,  in  the 
vestibule,  that  thou  mayest  enter  the  palace.  He 
used  to  say :  one  hour  employed  in  repentance  and 
good  deeds  in  this  world  is  far  preferable  to  a  whole 
life  in  the  future  one  ;  and  one  houi-'s  mental  dehght 
in  the  future  world  is  preferable  to  a  whole  life  in 
this  world. 


113  THE  BOOK  OP  LIFE. 

♦D  .D-N^  HTn^n  .Y^pn  ;nj  'd  n^r  c.x  .ndh  ntJ-y  n^iDi 
"lonn  "ii.':3  n^mn  nii^n  Jicn  d^id  mcB':n  .f]U2  7\:r\:  didd 
lao  N3n  D^-.y  n3iD  inr  n'jp^  n^D'  p]ij3  nnx'^  -inx  ^dn 
]'NLy  no  ."imim  nx-in  maa  D'^pt)  n:n  nhyn  ntci;?!!'  noNn 
nott'jii'D  jD  bp  .moa'jn  □t'lv^  ni  onpQ  nb  m^^yt'  ]d 
njjynoi  jrt'vn  nb^y^  inr  htnq  n'h  tn  f]una  n"i-,i:j  pnan 

(blessed  be  He)  deemed  proper  to  join  the  immortal 
soul  with  a  mortal  frame,  in  order  that  man  may,  by 
virtue  of  his  ovrn  merit  and  acti^^ty,  render  himself 
more  desendng  and  more  worthy  of  everlasting  happi- 
ness. The  attainment  of  tliis  perfection  depends, 
however,  entnely  upon  himself,  since  he  is,  by  the 
infinite  mercy  of  God,  endowed  with  the  power  of 
free  agency.  All  soids,  before  they  are  breathed 
into  the  nostrils  of  earthly  beings,  are  of  equal  origin 
and,  by  the  mercy  of  God,  enjoy  equally  celestial 
bhss.  But  after  their  being  sent  down  to  the  terr- 
estrial world  to  inhabit  the  body  of  frail  man,  they 
can  render  themselves  worthy  of  higher  bliss  by 
virtue  of  tnith,  for  the  practice  of  which  they  have 
ample  scope  in  this  world  ;  and  by  obe}ang  and  ful- 
filling the  behests  and  laws  of  the  Creator,  they 
acquire  a  perfection  which  it  is  impossible  to  reach 
in  the  region  of  sphits,  smco  this  high  rank  can  only 
bo  attained  by  unremittmg  labor,  wliich  is  not  the 
lot  of  the  celestial  inhabitants.  Hence  it  is  that  the 
soul  of  the  traly  jiious,  after  being  separated  from 
her  earthly  frame,  becometh  more  perfect,  more 
pure,  more  radiant  than  before.     There  she  shinoth 


THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  112 

HDD^  "iTt*  nan  nrx  p  ^y  n^Dtrn  yiD  n^inm  .n3iD3 

pious  king  Josiah  died  a  most  awful  death,  in  order 
tliat  he  might  not  behold  the  overthrow  of  his  king- 
dom and  the  destruction  of  the  temple,  which 
assuredly  woidd  have  been  more  painful  to  him  than 
the  severe  strokes  of  death  which  were  inflicted  on 
him ;  for  tradition  tells  us  that  the  arrows  of  the 
archers  perforated  his  bod}^,  and  made  it  like  a  sieve. 
Behold,  says  king  David  ;  what  man  is  there  that 
liveth  and  shall  not  see  death?  Agreeably  to  this 
maxim,  our  sages  of  yore  remark:  those  who  are 
born  must  die,  and  those  who  are  dead  A^dll  be  re- 
vived. Tea,  every  man  is  conscious  of  this  awful 
truth,  Adz.,  that  from  the  cradle  we  unceasingly 
verge  towards  the  grave,  whether  willingly  or  not ; 
f  :>r  as  man  is  bom  without  his  consent,  he  is  doomed 
to  die,  however  violently  he  may  struggle  against  it. 
The  soul  of  man,  ere  she  was  sent  down  to  inhabit 
the  tabernacle  of  clay,  and  before  she  was  wrapt  up 
in  earthly  coils,  enjoys  bliss  most  exquisite  in  the 
sjimtual  regions.  There  she  feasts  on  the  glory  of 
the  Divine  presence,  and  from  thence  this  heavenly 
daughter  but  reluctantly  descends  to  be  imiarisoned 
in  the  body   of  frail  mortal.     But  the  Holy  One 


Ill  THE  BOOK  OP  LIFE. 

^'j")  DIN  NH'  n^iv^  :N3'py  'mi  n^DB'a  N:n  idi  :31  "icn 
no  b  v^v  bp'i  :T3y  3Db  .Njoni  tdvt  na  b  ,:-)Dit' 
nxD  t'Dpj  DiDH  HN  DJ  :3rN  -iDNC  icn  .n3nx3  1^  yTXE* 

inDiDt>  Ninty  mxn  nwn'  d'dvd^  :i^  nv'it'  ix  din- 
."jD'H^  pi  .in;?")^    Ninty   n^qj   f]idd^i    .i^    ndls'   nmL:,-! 

^D'  ]D   'D   ^V  ^f^l    -"ilND   n^nj   N'HB'  r]N   Hiy  DIN^  ^TK' 

.niD'  DN  p)Ni  .inniD^  ni  "73  it?  ni^y  n"3pnK'  .nvn^ 
.I^DH  ri'B'N'a  iraDtc  icdi  .pnan  pjOwsj  n;;~in  'jdq  3'nDnD 


Eternal."  Rabbi  Hunali  teaches  in  the  name  of 
Raave  (some  teach  in  the  name  of  Rabbi  Akiba): 
man  should  at  all  times  accustom  himself  to  say: 
everything  which  the  heavenly  and  merciful  Pro\-id- 
ence  ordains  for  man  tends  merely  to  his  felicity,  and 
every  affliction,  however  severe,  should  be  borne 
with  fortitude,  j^atience  and  pious  resignation,  agi-ee- 
ably  to  the  words  of  the  pious  suflferer  Job,  who 
said :  "  what,  shall  we  receive  good  at  the  hand  of 
God,  and  shall  we  not  receive  evil?"  For  where  is 
the  mortal  that  can  wdth  certainty  say :  this  tends  to 
man's  good  and  that  to  his  evil?  Do  we  not  look 
upon  many  incidents  as  upon  a  real  happiness,  jei 
how  grievously  disappointed  are  we  afterwards  to 
behold  this  apparent  success  turned  into  an  actual 
disaster?  And  again,  do  we  not  oftentimes  deem 
ourselves  plunged  into  the  deepest  misery,  whilst 
the  Holy  One  (blessed  bo  He)  destines  it  for  our 
good?  In  such  a  view,  son  of  man,  thou  art  to  look 
upon  the  pangs  of  death,  as  Scripture  says:  "pre- 
vious to  the  evil,  the  righteous  is  taken  away."    The 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE,  110 

NintJ'  moi  niD  ^d3  n't  : -jjidd  tiDD  .  i-iind  b:i2i  •  ■jti'DJ 

13  -)3  riD")  -)GN  :  '^'D  'jn  Nja  :  nn:2i:'D  inr^^pt'  D"ni :  ncxn 
^^ns  D'H^xD  ."131  '?^nN  "hd  vN-ip  -)DwS-i  .pnv  'n-i*-)^N  njn 
:n-iDix  "n  "I'b  n-ix'N  lj-dlj'di  ion  .nd.id  iqn  ihdn  -^i  ."i3i 
•  noN  pnn  .NipN  "n  d:z/i  .nudiS  pn  nia  .idix  Din:n  '3t 
NJin  21  -iDN  :-]-iDD  "n  DLi'  'H'  np^?  "m  ]nj  "n  my  idx 

God,  should  it  even  please  Divine  Providence  to  de- 
prive thee  of  life ;  a  ad  with  all  thy  might  signifies 
with  all  temporal  substance.  According  to  some,  the 
words  "  and  with  all  thy  might "  signify,  with  whatever 
measure  He  metes  out  His  dispensation  unto  thee,  do 
thou  thank  Him  as  much  as  thy  might  possibly  per- 
mits thee.  With  the  only  difference  that,  at  a  good 
occurrence,  man  must  say :  blessed  be  He  who  deals 
Avith  us  so  exceedhigly  kind ;  but,  at  an  unfortunate 
event,  he  must  say :  blessed  be  the  true  Judge,  and 
bear  the  affliction  with  joyful  and  pious  resignation. 
Rabbi  Bar  Bar-Chanah  deduces  the  above-mentioned 
doctrine  in  the  name  of  Rabbi  Jochanan,  from  the 
scriptural  passage  which  says:  "ia  God  Tvill  I  praise 
His  words,  ui  the  Eternal  will  I  praise  His  words." 
Rabbi  Abbuha  infers  it  from  the  following  passage : 
"  I  will  praise  Thee  both  for  mercy  and  judgment ; 
imto  Thee,  O  Eternal,  will  I  sing."  Rabbi  Tanhum 
proves  it  from  the  following  verse :  "I  found  trouble 
and  sorrow;  then  called  I  upon  the  name  of  the 
Eternal."  But  the  sages  say:  Scripture  tells  us 
very  distinctly :  "  the  Eternal  gave  and  the  Eternal 
hath    taken    away,   blessed    be    the  name  of   the 


109  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

m'Dpixi  ,TT  'b  3n  /i"!'  'b  nn  r\-b  irzn  :j-irB'  Nh  ;n  ab 

♦3")  pi   :min  tJiun  'jdd  ,ib'T  ")J2S  Nisani  i^-n  'ns  'nd 

.'iniD'  vb}}  bip 

^-inDty   DiyD  nv~in  t'y  ■jid'?  din  3"n   :a'DDn  nox  .7 
'jtfD  -pnb  bj2  yr\b>i  "n  nx  nnnxi  iirDHjH/  -nDiDn  ^v 
n^<  ^Di2  Nin  i^'Dn  •  "jtyDj  ^d^i  •  y-in  -)-.":di  did  -)ij'3  ♦  7-)a' 

no,  I  would  ratlier  dispense  with  them  and  vdth. 
their  eventual  reward.  After  a  pause  he  said :  sup- 
port me  with  thy  hand  (\4z.,  inspire  me  by  thy  in- 
struction -u-ith  fortitude  and  resignation).  He  com- 
pUed  with  his  request,  and  successfully.  Rabbi 
Elazar  likewise  submitted  willingly  to  the  Di^dne 
punishment,  which  he  thought  he  might  have  incun-ed 
by  some  sin  unknown  to  him.  At  evening  he  hailed 
his  sufferings  with  the  exclamation :  welcome  ye,  my 
brethren  and  friends !  but  at  dawn  they  were  soothed 
by  the  meditation  of  the  Law ;  viz.,  his  mind  was  so 
absorbed  in  the  word  of  God,  that  he  became  un- 
conscious of  his  bodily  sufferings. 


The  sages  observe :  man  is  in  duty  bound  to  bless 
(rod  for  evil  as  well  as  for  the  good  he  receives  fi'om 
Providence ;  for  it  is  said  :  "  and  thou  shalt  love  the 
Eternal  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  with  all  thy  soid 
and  with  all  thy  might."  With  all  thy  heart,  signi- 
fies wath  both  thy  inclinations,  viz.,  that  which  is 
prone  to  c^al,  and  that  which  adheres  to  do  good ; 
with  all  thy  soul,  implies :  thou  art  boimd  to  thank 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  108 

mm  nwD  \s   :n'D3  Np  'ndn  isn  /Dn  xp  n^.m  n":n 

Ni^ity  wn"?  "las  :")'3  'Ni'tyyi  ndij  ]n  /jn  die'q  'n 
1D21  n'D3  Np  \s'-i  Ni  ^y  n'^  ■T2^<  ,vSjon  xp.  Nn=:y2  y^m 
.T^  lOw^   :]'"nD'  T^y  ]'D'3n  ,n'^  ■i:2x  'Dm  'dhin   :iiTnn 

suddenly  the  chamber  was  illumined.  He  perceived 
that  Eabbi  Elazar  was  weeping.  "Why  weepest 
thou?  asked  he.  Is  it  because  thou  art  prevented 
by  thy  sufferings  from  promulgating  the  Law  of  God? 
Our  sages  have  already  laid  down  the  well  grounded 
maxim,  that  in  our  actions  the  quantity  is  immaterial, 
if  the  quality  is  good,  so  that  our  heart  is  directed 
to  Him  who  is  enthroneth  in  heaven.  Or  is  it  caused 
by  the  anxiety  for  thy  daily  necessities  ?  It  is  not 
the  lot  of  every  man  to  feast  at  two  tables  (viz.,  the 
enjoyment  of  terrestrial  and  celestial  happiness).  Is 
it  because  thou  art  childless  ?  Behold  there  the  bone 
of  the  tenth  son  whom  I  buried.  No,  said  Rabbi 
Elazar,  I  weep  because  of  this  bodily  frame,  the 
beautiful  work  of  an  all-mse  Creator,  which  must 
now  decompose  into  dust.  Then  answered  Babbi 
Jochanan :  thou  hast  cause  to  weep — both  wept  to- 
gether. In  the  course  of  conversation  Rabbi  Jocha- 
nan asked  him :  dost  thou  finally  resign  thyself  to 
these  paternal  chastisements  ?  The  sufferer  rejoined : 


his  mind  was  clouded  in  obscurity  regarding  the  dispensation  of  punishment, 
which  he  deemed  undeserved.  The  teachings  of  Kabbi  Jochanan,  however, 
who  from  experience  learned  how  to  submit  to  the  Divine  will,  dispelled  those 
doubts,  and  enligtened  the  learned  patient  upon  this  subject.  The  uncovering 
ofhia  arm  is  a  symbolical  term  f  ~r  imparting  instruction  so  cleariy,  that  it 
spread  rays  of  light,  comfort,  composure  and  consolation. 


107  THE   BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

upboh  b^y  Qnn  nana  u'n  dn  ,n3nN  b\t^  imo'n  ^3n 
-iDN  Nj'jn  '3-)  n'3j!?  ^NV  ,iy^n  pnr  '3-n  nh  *5    njcD 

Nb  1DX  N"n  '3T  pi  :n'cpiNi  ,nn'  .t^  nn'   :•]-'  't?  nn 

'31   H'Dj'?    ^;/'N    ,B'bn     ITVt'N    '311     .TTDpiN)     ]"irty     NtJl    jn 

N-)inj  bsji  n'vi"i^  n"^j  ,^dn  n'33  'jj  Np  n^m  'in  ,pnv 

wMlst  from  the  latter,  we  may  hope  to  be  relieved 
by  pious  prayer  offered  to  heaven  on  our  behaK. 
The  Talmud  Berachoth  relates :  Eabbi  Haninah, 
having  visited  Babbi  Jochanan  in  his  illness,  asked 
his  suffering  friend :  dost  thou  finally  resign  thyself 
to  these  j^aternal  chastisements?  The  sufferer  re- 
joined :  no,  I  would  rather  be  without  them  and 
without  theu"  eventual  reward.  In  the  course  of 
conversation  he  said :  give  me  thy  hand  (inspire  me 
by  thy  insimction  with  fortitude  and  resignation) ; 
Babbi  Haninah  compHed  with  this  request,  and 
awakened  within  him  a  spmt  of  filial  resignation  and 
firm  submission  to  the  unfathomable  mil  of  God. 
The  same  success  attended  Babbi  Haninah  on  ^dsit- 
ing  Heeyah,  who  had  also  previously  misunderstood 
the  Divine  purpose  in  punishing  him  with  liea\y 
afflictions.  The  Talmud  relates  another  case,  to 
show  that  the  lesson  which  Babbi  Jochanan  derived 
fi'om  the  instniction  of  Babbi  Haninah  was  by  him 
most  salutary  ajiplicd  to  his  colleague,  Babbi  Elazar. 
Babbi  Jochanan,  on  visiting  Babbi  Elazar,  saw  that 
he  was  stretched  on  his  bed,  which  stood  in  a  dark 
chamber  ;  Babbi  Jochanan  uncovered  his  arm,*  and 


•    Tho  spirit  of  tUis  allegory  is,    Rabbi  Elazar  was  doflcient  of  fortitudo  to 
bear  his  sufferings.    Tho  words,  "  He  slept  iu  a  dark  chamber,"  indicate  that 


THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  106 

jmo'D  1ND-10  D  fDn  n"3pni:'  b  ,NJin  nn  -icx  ndi  "idnt 
.-nanND  ]^3p  n^  i^j'sn  t'lD'  rbnn  IwVdi  pan  "m  idnjb' 
piD'  ^iN  nyn^  DuJ'N  na  :  iti'Dj  nL:'N  d'l^ti  dn  :  iD)b  ma'pn 
.iniD  ^yn  ^b  own  vxan  -iDyn  din^  m*2w  piD'  '3  :nyn^ 


bliss;  for  Scriptm-e  says:  "for  whom  the  Eternal 
loveth,  he  correcteth."  The  Holy  One  (blessed  be 
He)  \'isits  at  times  mth  the  greatest  rigour  the  most 
immaterial  trespasses  of  His  pious  men,  in  order  to 
cleanse  their  souls  from  all  iniquity,  so  that  they 
may  enter  in  perfect  purity  the  gates  of  everlasting 
fehcity.  The  same  Rabbi  continues  to  teach  in  the 
name  of  Rabbi  Hunah :  he  in  whom  the  Almighty 
dehghts  is  led  to  contrition  of  heart  by  severe  afflic- 
tion, as  it  is  wi'itten :  "  in  whom  the  x4.1mighty  dehghts 
He  bends  down  by  visiting  Him  with  sickness." 
But  these  afflictions  must  be  borne  with  resignation, 
and  the  pious  sufferer  should,  as  in  the  words  of  oiu" 
text,  deliver  up  his  soul  Kke  a  trespass-offering, 
namely,  as  a  trespass-offering  is  only  efficacious 
when  brought  with  sincere  repentance,  so  as  to  effect 
reconciliation  between  man  and  his  Maker,  thus  must 
oxu*  sufferings  be  borne  with  pious  submission,  in 
order  to  effect  thereby  forgiveness  from  God.  Differ- 
ent, however,  are  the  chastisements  we  receive  as 
punishment  lor  sins  committed,  fi'om  those  with  which 
heavenly  love  visits  us  as  a  trial  to  prove  our  forti- 
tude.     To  the  former  we  must  implicitly  submit, 


105  THE  BOOK  OP  LIFE. 

-)DNi  :  H'^y  iTD  "n  pDm  nDNJty  ,n'3  □"pna  ms^m  ,d'D' 
E'DLJ'D'  ,vby  TND  imo'Ly  mx  nsn  dx  inj^h  m  ids  n3-> 
:"n  ^N  n^iL^ji  mipmi  u'Din  ni^'cnj  nt'-rnj  nowB'  vB^yoD 


punishment  which  the  heavenly  Judge  deems  proper 
to  entail  upon  us,  since  true  happiness  is  only  re- 
served for  a  future  world. 

E.avah  observes:  "whoever  submits  to  Divine 
punishment  ^ith  pious  resignation,  will  behold  his 
offspring  enjoy  long  life,  and  his  previous  study  of 
the  Divine  Law  ^^^ll  be  established;  for  Scriptnre 
says :  "^dth  whom  the  Eternal  is  pleased,  He  bends 
down  by  visiting  him  with  sickness;  he  shall  live 
long,  and  through  him  that  Law,  which  is  the  dehght 
of  the  Eternal,  shall  be  firmly  established  and  pros- 
per." For  the  dispensation  of  Divine  mercj-,  though 
not  understood  by  men,  is  nevertheless  as  just  and 
as  upright  as  the  Dispenser  Himself. 

The  Rabbi  continues  in  the  name  of  Rabbi  Hunah : 
if  a  man  perceives  that  affliction  overtakes  him,  he 
must  search  his  past  conduct;  as  it  is  written:  "let 
us  search  and  try  our  ways,  and  retui'n  Tuito  the 
Eternal."  If  after  searching  he  found  nothing  by 
which  he  incurred  punishment,  he  must  attribute 
it  to  the  neglect  of  the  study  of  the  Word  of  God ;  or 
look  upon  those  visitations  as  springing  fi-om  the  love 
of  God,  to  try  him  and  render  him  worthy  of  future 


THE  BOOK  OP  LIFE.  104 

:nT  mo  p  ni  mnD  ns^n  ^n   db'  bm  "iDj;n  p  n'n 

:nrD-)n  ri'i  f'no'  B^nn'i  n'XD'  N'ln  '3  :DXDn  ^n  ntr  ididi 
-iD'D  Nin  msn  nD  'D^  .lonm  msn  nniD^  nn  jmo'n  'd 

^N  p  b]}  :nuDn-)3  ij"m  iid'o  th^x  "n  ij3  ns  b^'n 
non  3m  .xin  -iiyn  pna  'd  .un  pny  p-i  .nn^  d'vt 
p  ^y  ,"iDnn  in^v  ndidi  noND  ntinnn  ims  iD'oti'   ,naNi 

The  royal  preacher  says :  "  All  go  unto  one  place ; 
all  are  of  the  dust,  and  all  turn  unto  dust  again.  As 
one  dieth,  so  dieth  the  other."  And  serious  indeed 
is  the  alarming  position  hi  the  hostage  to  death. 
"Behold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God  coiTecteth,  if 
he  despiseth  not  the  chastisement  of  the  Almighty ; 
for  He  maketh  sore  and  bindeth  up  ;  He  woundeth, 
and  His  hands  heal."  For  the  chastisement  inflicted 
upon  man  frequently  tends  to  his  happiness  and  is 
dispensed  by  Divine  Providence  commensurate  with 
man's  strength  to  bear  it,  as  it  is  wi'itten :  "  thou 
shalt  also  consider  in  thy  heart  that  as  a  man  chast- 
eneth  his  son,  so  the  Almighty,  thy  God,  chast- 
eneth  thee."  We  ought,  therefore,  not  to  burst  forth 
in  murmurs  and  complaints  at  the  Divine  decrees, 
but  piously  resign  ourselves  to  the  dispensation  of 
justice,  and  rather  acknowledge  that  He  is  righteous 
and  just,  and  full  of  mercy  and  tnith ;  that  His  visit- 
ations are  in  tnith  and  His  remedy  is  in  mercy.  We 
must,  therefore,  humbly  and  filially  submit  to  the 


103  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

n"2pn  /Dt'i^n  JQ  1:32^  usi  v'^^'-^  jVDi    ^'bJm^  nr^i  n>m 

U'M   NDD   3-)   ION    IDHJDt'   HJIQ   1DN1   V3S   pt^m  ,1p^n    ^BIJ 

j'E'npD  Nn\sn3  Nzt'D^  n-ik'^  nm  snt'D  pD  :  x-uTJ'n  noNi 

I'tS'lV   D.TZ'   ."'JDDN'    "m   'J3TJ?'   'DN1   '3S   ,in    "TDS    ]D1    :  n"d 

n"3pm  ixDt'  HJiD  vn  ]>ijb  hjid  hi  p   insi  ,|nx:n  t''3t£'3 

:cnNn  nj!2Q  -)Hiji  -Era-i  T'ii 
"iiV  'JwS'Dpn  nr^jDi   'JD'nn   n^nD   n^i    :2vn   n::N   jdi 
D'riD  jD  t^yi    :"iji  noy  n'ts'y  -om  D"n  "iji  'jz^n'm  -)ti'3i 
f Dnn  t::''Nn  'd  j3  t'v  :  "n  'iDn  i::nn'i  n^x  n::r'i  cm  'd 
:nDNi  ion  Nin  dj  b^^yi  "n  'iDnn  ]'3'  ,Nnn  nb)];  "n  ,D"n 

foot  walketh.  From  Him  are  knowledge,  discem- 
ment  and  undei'stauding.  Wlien  the  liour  of  death 
approacheth,  the  Almighty  chiims  His  portion,  and 
leaves  to  father  and  mother  their  own  share  .  .  . 
Thus  saith  Job  :  "  HaSt  Thou  not  j)oured  me  out 
as  milk,  and  cui-dled  me  as  cheese?  Thou  hast 
clothed  me  with  skin  and  flesh,  and  hast  formed  me 
with  bones  and  sinews.  Thou  hast  granted  me  life 
and  favor,  and  Thy  visitation  hath  preserved  my 
spu-it."  How  just,  therefore,  is  the  exhortation  of 
king  David,  in  exclaiming :  "  whoso  is  wise  will  ob- 
serve these  things,  even  they  shall  understand  the 
loving  kindnesses  of  the  Eternal."  How  diligently 
ought  he,  who  desireth  life  everlasting,  contemplate 
the  mercies  of  God,  in  order  that  he  may  emulate 
them;  that  he,  like  God,  may  disinterestedly  exer- 
cise benevolence  and  unselfish  charity  in  supporting 
the  li\Tng,  and  not  relax  or  shi'ink  back  from  par- 
ticipating  in  the  duties  which  we  owe  to  the  mortal 
remains  of  our  fellow  creatiu'es. 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  102 

iDN'K'  'ID  -non  "inyn  nr  ^d3  .nns  n>'a/  •njiia'xi  njE/n 
Dn  ,ioNi  VDxi  nbpn  ,n-!X3  y^D'W  n^i/b-^  ]:3-)  un     .5 

that  lie  say  a^np  for  Ids  departed  father  or  mother, 
and  to  implore  God  that  He  may  redeem  them  fi'om 
the  ti3n"i3,  and  jilace  them  in  the  garden  of  Eden. 
The  sages  also  recommend  as  a  praiseworthy  ob- 
servance on  the  moumftd  occasion  of  death,  that 
ten  pious  men,  who  are  versed  in  the  Law  of  God, 
should  daily  assemble  for  an  hour  at  least  duiing  the 
first  year  of  mourning,  at  the  house  of  the  dej^arted ; 
there  to  pray,  meditate  and  study  the  Law  of  God; 
at  the  conclusion  of  which  the  weU-known  "^^an-i  vj^ip 
is  to  be  recited.  Should,  however,  cii'cumstances 
not  permit  us  to  observe  these  customs  through  the 
whole  year,  they  ought  at  least  not  be  neglected 
during  the  thirty  days  subsequent  to  the  death. 


The  Rabbis  observe :  man  owes  liis  existence  first 
to  God,  and  then  to  his  father  and  mother.  To  the 
latter  he  owes  the  physical  life,  whilst  the  Omnipo- 
tent uivests  him  with  form  and  features,  faculties 
and  intellect,  which  distinguish  him  from  the  animal 
creation.  Tlirough  Him  the  eye  seeth,  and  the  ear 
heareth ;  tlirough  Hun  the  mouth  speaketh,  and  the 


101  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

)'Ni2'  no  .mm'  d-i  1:3x1  :'jdd  mv  vb^  d'ohid  dhn  ya 
2'j^i  Ninn  :  iDipD3  Y2\i;r}  dim  'J3  nisry  p^*n  -I'dhjo  ib 
")3iD  NDv  b  .ponjo  H'^  mn  n"?!  .nnn'  3-n  n-nnn'tt'i 
.H'^  -)Dxi  .ND^n3  H'b  'inns  .n'riDnn  '3n'i  •niu:';;  mi.T  di 
DUD'^  nbnj  maoti'  nsdji  :'nyi  nw^  nn^nz'  .>nj;i  nun 
")nx  mo'p^i  .Dti'  bsnn^i  .n;;Di7  b  din  'j3  niB'v 
)b  B"ti'  -in?m  ^nj  noa  jdb'  bo  .pp  na3  i^'Dn  .nbnn 

beyond  this  time  we  incur  the  just  reproach  of  Al- 
mighty God,  whose  voice,  as  it  were,  calls  upon  us : 
'  son  of  man,  hast  thou  more  compassion  upon  the 
departed  than  I,  the  merciful  God  ? '  "  The  same 
Rabbi  also  recommends  as  a  praisworthy  custom, 
viz. :  at  the  demise  of  a  person  who  left  no  relatives 
to  mourn  for  him,  to  send,  during  the  seven  days  of 
mourning,  ten  men  to  the  house  where  his  death 
took  place,  there  to  perform  the  daily  service.  A 
death  happened  near  the  residence  of  E-ahbi  Jehu- 
dah,  and  there  were  no  relatives  to  mourn  for  the 
deceased  ;  in  consequence  of  which  Rabbi  Jehudah 
brought  to  the  house  of  the  departed  ten  men,  who 
joined  him  in  prayer,  which  so  greatly  absorbed  the 
thoughts  of  the  truly  humane  Rabbi,  that  he  dreamt 
to  have  seen  the  departed,  who  said  to  him :  "  mayest 
thou  enjoy  the  same  repose  and  spiritual  tranquility 
which  thou  hast  caused  to  be  conferred  upon  me." 
Hence  we  perceive  the  importance  of  the  pious  and 
humane  duties,  as  instituted  by  oiu'  sages,  during 
the  nyna  (the  seven  days) ;  tliere  to  pray,  and  there 
to  meditate  on  the  law  of  God.  These  duties  must 
be  observed  even  at  the  death  of  a  child.  And  in 
case  the  deceased  left  a  son,  care  should  be  taken 


THE  BOOK   OP  LIFE.  100 

mrt.o.T'ro  nn  yj^i;  .pn  v^b'  nb  urn  .n'mnn'tya  xnnx 
N^i  .'DH  nnyn  n^  njih  n"i  rh  "idx  .nniD  n'^y   n'D3 

B'UDn  -isN  -iiH^D  in"DnD  .]inb  'n"Di  ."]Tn^  Nmn  .snn'x 
D3n  ^s  .1^  nun  n^  .nio^  iD3n  ^n  :  nnai  r\Wi^:b  Nn-nr 
nty^iy  Nt'N  .■nv'tJ'^a  "inr  .ib  nun  bsi  .\sna  "in?  .n^b 
n'bpn  "icN  -jb'Ni  jNDo  .n-nsDni?  cB^'^t:'  .^DD^^  n;;^^'  .'dd^ 

Near  the  residence  of  Rabbi  Hunah,  there  lived  a 
woman  who  had  lost  one  of  her  seven  sons,  at  which 
calamity  she  fretted  and  wept  so  grievously,  that 
Rabbi  Hiinah  was  induced  to  request  her  to  cease 
from  such  imj^ious  lamentation.  She,  however,  turned 
a  deaf  ear  to  the  friendly  words  of  the  pious  Rabbi. 
He  again  said  unto  her :  "if  thou  wilt  follow  my  ad- 
vice, it  will  be  well  imto  thee ;  if  not,  thou  mayest 
prepare  shrouds  for  another  of  thy  sons."  These 
well-meant  words,  however,  had  no  effect  upon  her; 
she  still  continued  to  give  vent  to  her  violent  com- 
plaints, until  she  was  bereaved  of  all  her  children* 
Rabbi  Hunah  again  entreated  her  to  submit  to  the 
will  of  God,  and  consider  her  own  life ;  but,  alas, 
«ven  these  admonishing  words  had  no  influence  upon 
her,  and  ultimately  she  herself  fell  a  victim  to  her 
excessive  fi-etting.  The  passage  in  Jeremiah :  "  weep 
ye  not  for  the  dead,  neither  bemoan  him,"  is  thus  ex- 
pounded by  the  Talmud :  "weep  not  for  the  dead  to 
excess,  and  bemoan  him  not  more  than  the  duty  of 
nature  demands.  Three  days  ought  to  be  devoted 
to  weeping,  seven  days  to  mourning,  and  thirty  days 
for  the  grooving  of  the  hau\*     But  by  lamenting 

*  To  abstain  from  cutting  the  hair  of  the  head  and  beard. 


99  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

•  nmjD^  on  'd 

'Di  .Nin  iK'n  pna  '3   .vnno  ipn  D;;-inn^  pN  p  ^v 
in^yit;  no  b  ^y  i:n  pn^nb  pi  ):b  ]'ni  :niyvn  no  i^  -)ds' 
-inv  na  ^v  nDTLy  'di  :"j-)dq  "n  DUf  '.t  np^  "m  pj  "n 


-inr  iriD  ^v  nts'pnan   ^d   n-i  i?2n  Nmn'  d"i  "ion    .4 


Wise  Providence  ordained  that  whatever  earth 
covers,  man  forgets  ;  for — 

Whj  should  we  grieve  and  mourn  for  those 
Who  have  gone  to  tlieir  everhisting  repose  ? 

Let  us,  therefore,  refrain  from  comphiining  against 
the  ways  of  God ;  for  He  is  just  and  upright,  and 
who  can  say  unto  Him :  what  doest  Thou  ?  On  the 
contrary,  we  have  but  to  acknowledge  the  equity  of 
His  judgment  in  all  His  proceedings  towards  us. 
"  The  Eternal  hath  given,  and  the  Eternal  hath  taken 
away  ;  blessed  be  the  name  of  God ! "  By  excessive 
lamentation,  by  unremitting  weeping  for  the  dead, 
we  manifest  that  we  are  discontent  with  the  dispensa- 
tion of  His  Divine  justice. 


Rabbi  Jehudah  says  in  the  name  of  Rav :  he  who 
frets  or  gives  way  to  excessive  grief  at  the  death  of 
a  relative  or  friend,  will  have  cause  to  bewail  the 
loss  of  another  dear  and  beloved  individuaL 


THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  98 


and  went  to  him  to  raise  him  up  from  the  earth :  but 
he  would  not,  neither  did  he  eat  bread  -R-ith  them. 
And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  seventh  day,  that  the 
child  died.  And  the  servants  of  David  feared  to 
tell  him  that  the  child  was  dead ;  for,  said  ihey, 
behold  while  the  child  was  yet  alive,  we  spake  unto 
him,  and  he  would  not  hearken  unto  oui*  voice,  how 
^\all  he  then  vex  himself,  if  we  tell  him  the  child  is 
dead  ?  But  when  David  saw  that  his  servants  whis- 
pered, David  perceived  that  the  child  was  dead ; 
therefore  he  said  to  his  servants  :  is  the  child  dead? 
and  they  said :  it  is  dead.  Then  David  rose  from 
the  earth,  and  washed  and  anointed  himself,  and 
changed  liis  apparel,  and  came  uito  the  house  of  the 
Eternal  and  worshipped,  and  then  he  came  into  his 
own  house ;  and  when  he  required  they  set  bread 
before  him,  and  he  did  eat.  Then  said  his  servants 
unto  him :  what  thing  is  this  that  thou  hast  done  ? 
Thou  didst  fast  and  weep  for  the  child  when  the 
child  was  aUve  ;  but  when  the  chUd  M^as  dead,  thou 
didst  rise  and  eat  bread.  And  he  said :  while  the 
child  was  yet  alive,  I  fasted  and  wept ;  for  I  said :. 
who  can  tell  whether  God  wiU.  be  gracious  to  me,, 
that  the  child  may  Hve  ?  but  now  it  is  dead,  where- 
fore should  I  fast?  Can  I  bring  him  back?  I  shall 
go  to  him,  but  he  will  not  retmn  to  me." 


97  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

.♦^NH  n'D  ^N"n  nvv  □njt'  -pn  p  'd  bv  f)t<  -i^d  n^m  .vts^n 
nn  nnj  r\'^iy  nm  nnn'  Tyn  hjdb'  dwd  v:d  idqe'd 
DnDT  Dt)  ba  pu  Hi  'T  tjy  loav  Nin  dji   .D'nsh  cn^ 


had  lost  liis  two  sons,  as  enunciated  by  Joshuah.  And 
kin^  Aliab,  ungodly  as  he  was,  still  condescended 
personally  to  condole  the  bereaved  father  in  his 
affliction.  These  events  fully  demonstrate  the  im- 
portance of  comforting  the  mourners. 


He  who  is  solicitous  of  performing  the  duty  of 
condoHng  the  mourners,  not  as  a  mere  outward 
ceremony,  but  in  the  true  sense  of  its  sacred  institu- 
tion, should  addi'ess  the  mourners  in  words  of  com- 
fort, reasonable  and  pious  observations,  so  as  to 
induce  them,  however  grievously  afflicted  by  their 
recent  loss,  to  acknowledge  the  justice  of  God,  who 
alone  can  afford  salvation.  The  demeanor  of  king 
David,  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  his  child,  as 
narrated  in  Holy  Writ,  is  at  once  so  instructive  and 
consoling  that  we  deem  it  proper  to  quote  it  at 
length.  A  child,  of  which  this  pious  king  was  ex- 
tremely fond,  and  whom  he  so  paternally  loved,  was 
overtaken  with  a  dangerous  illness.  "  Da\ad,  there- 
fore," says  Scriptm-e,  "  besought  God  for  the  child. 
And  David  fasted,  and  went  in,  and  lay  all  night 
upon  the  earth ;  and  the  elders  of  his  house  arose, 


THF  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  96 

IDD'T  .nn'D  bw  Dnm  :d^  bn  ]n'  'nm  'nd  .d^  bi< 
bm  >r\'nb'  niiH  .n'jiyu'  jyon  .n'jnnp'  inpn  .n'jnsD' 
mo  .r\"2pn  bvf  vnn'D  'd  :'j  piD  p"dd  Nn'Nnj  ..tjiW 
^V  -lonr  icayn  n'bpn  .d'^dnh  omt'  'it'inni  :mD  njjD 
D'Diayn  d'^pdnh  om^  •nt'njn  niaon  D"pb  dinh  i^'  jd 
HB'yi  .-on  '^Dij  nm  .yD'n:  n^-i  dd^  \s  -)3ti  .nnjNi  |ij'3 
nPwX  'H'l  n'HDT  .pna'  nx  dh'j  Toayn  ni,-i  'd  .n"3p,-i  mo 
:d'^3n  'Dimn  lomtf  .ijd  pna'  hn  D'h^s  "jin'i  .D.Tnnx  mo 
n'DE'  3NnNi  .'bwsn  rrn  .t^N'n  Dwv  omt'  ^t^ncy  .n'djh  in'tjx  ]di 

to  his  heart."     What,  asks  the  Rabbi,  is  man  to 
take  to  his  heart?     To  be  at  all  times  conscious 
of  his   own  frailty,  and   not   to   forget   the   awful 
truth  that  he  likewise  will  once  stand  in  need  of 
the  same  service  he  now  renders  to  the  dead.     As 
he  mourns  for  others,  thus  others  will  mourn  for 
him  ;  as  he  buiies  others,  as  he  carries  and  follows 
others  to  their  resting-place,  the  same  will  others  do 
to  him.     For  the  same  measure  we  mete   out   to 
others,  the  Eternal  will  mete  out  to  us.     And  he 
who  comforts  the  mourners  will,  when  in  distress, 
find  consolation  in  God.    Son  of  man,  fulfil,  therefore, 
this  charitable  and  humane  duty,  visit  and  console 
the   distressed  mourners,  soothe  their  grief,  cheer 
them,  speak  to  them  words  of  comfort  and  consola- 
tion, and  thou  wilt  follow  thy  Creator,  who  consoled 
our  patriarch  Isaac  in  time  of  grief;   as  we  read: 
"  And  it  came  to  pass  after  the  dea.^i  of  Abraham, 
and  God  blessed  his  son  Isaac ;  which  our  sages 
illustrate,  God  spoke  to  his  heart  words  of  comfort. 
Tradition  tells  that  EHjah  went  to  condole  Hiel,  the 
Beth-elite,  who,  when  rebuilding  the  city  of  Jericho, 


95  THE  BOOK   OF   LIFE. 

.3113  o  p'"ia  noN  "iDNjB'  :nn'D  r\^)))\i;  i^t  'ptjj  'jni  'n^y^ 

.onnN^  1TJJ  TiDN  :DDn  niB'DJ  npiiji  idnje'  .mt^E::  nnaiN 
•  n^iv'?  i:jj  'hdn   :,-ipns  n'nn  i?)  iDSi^  .'oayt'  'n:jj  uni 

HDD    ^plS   7JD^    "J^m   IDNJCy      INDH   D^iy^   'ni:J   'JN1    .HTH 

:"IDDS'  'n 


which  I  have  preserved  will  produce  fruit  in  abund- 
ance. As  Scripture  says:  "Say  ye  to  the  right- 
eous that  it  shall  be  well  with  them ;  for  they  shall 
eat  the  fruit  of  their  doings,"  My  fathers,  indeed, 
have  preserved  gold,  I  have  saved  souls ;  as  Script- 
ure says :  "And  he  that  winneth  souls  is  wise." 
My  fathers  have  amassed  for  others,  what  I  amass 
is  for  myself;  as  we  read:  "And  it  shall  be  right- 
eousness unto  THEE  before  the  Eternal  thy  God." 
In  a  word,  my  fore-fathers  have  amassed  stores  for 
this  world,  I,  on  the  contrary,  have  saved  for  that 
to  come;  as  Scripture  says:  "Thy  righteousness 
shall  precede  thee ;  the  glory  of  the  Eternal  shall 
be  thy  reward." 


Rabbi  Meyer  thus  comments  on  the  following 
Scriptural  passage  :  "  It  is  better  to  go  to  the  house 
of  mourning  than  to  go  to  the  house  of  feasting ;  for 
that  is  the  end  of  all  men,  and  the  Hving  will  lay  it 


THE   BOOK    OF   LIFE.  94 

After  the  recitation  of  the  Psalm  and  the  Kaddish  for  the  orphans, 
one  of  the  following  seven  portions  of  the  Talmud,  arranged  for 
the  np^'i':  is  to  be  read  by  the  minister  or  some  other  person. 

nnyiNi  vnnaiN  w>2^  ."pDn  T3jid3  ncfyo  .j^n-)  un    -1 
:  }b  novNi  .  r^is  n'D*  rns  v^y  nam  .  niian  riJC'n  .  thdn 
7nnaiN  t^hd  nnxi  .  vnns  bm  b];  vD'oim  nna^N  njj  jnut* 
•  r\b]}Db  'n;jj  ':n  i  n'^nb  luj  'nnN  :  onb  inx  .  i'iidn  nnaiNi 

ntflV   j'NtJ'    "131   1TJJ   'riDN     :  INDD    JDD    LJDK/DT    pia    "iDNJtf 

Our  Sages  relate : — Dui'ing  tlie  reign  of  King  Mo- 
nobazns,  tliere  liappened  to  be  a  most  grievous 
famine.  The  humane  king,  moved  by  the  sufferings 
and  privations  of  his  people,  caused  the  treasures, 
which  he  and  his  ancestors  had  amassed,  to  be 
distributed  amongst  the  poor  and  needy.  He  was 
severely  reproached  by  his  brethi-en,  and  by  all  his 
family.  Thy  forefathers,  said  they,  hoarded  up 
treasures,  and  augmented  those  of  thy  ancestors,  but 
thou,  so  far  from  increasing  them,  dost  even  squan- 
der what  they  have  left.  The  benevolent  king  re- 
phed,  My  fathers  have  gathered  terrestrial  ti-eas- 
ures,  I  have  saved  celestial  ones.  As  Scripture 
says:  "Truth  must  spring  forth  out  of  the  earth, 
then  benevolence  will  look  down  from  heaven." 
My  fathers  hid  treasures  within  the  reach  of  ruthless 
hands,  mine  are  preseiwed  m  a  place  beyond  the 
reach  of  human  violence.  As  it  is  said,  "Justice 
and  judgment  are  the  basis  of  Thy  throne,  when 
mercy  and  tnith  anticipate  Thy  presence."  My 
fathers  garnered  that  which  yields  no  fruit,    that 


93  THE   BOOK   OP  LIFE. 

After  the  Maarib  prayer  the  following  Psalm  is  said ;   after  which 
the  W^'p  is  recited. 

MicHTAM  OF  David. 
Protect  me,  O  God!  for  in  Thee  do  I  put  my 
trust,  O  my  felicity.  Say  thou  unto  the  Eternal, 
Thou  art  my  Lord  :  nought  excelleth  Thee.  Say  it 
also  to  the  holy  in  the  land,  and  to  the  mighty  nobles 
in  whom  are  all  my  dehghts.  Their  sorrows  increase 
who  follow  strange  gods :  I  will  not  offer  their  liba- 
tions of  blood,  neither  will  I  utter  their  names  with 
my  lips.  Thou,  O  Eternal,  art  the  portion  of  mine 
inheritance  and  of  my  cup.  Thou  maintainest  my 
lot.  My  portion  was  assigned  to  me  in  pleasant- 
ness; yea,  mine  is  a  goodly  heritage.  Now  will  I 
praise  the  Eternal,  who  thus  gave  me  counsel ;  even 
in  dismal  nights,  in  inward  chastisements,  have  I  set 
the  Eternal  always  before  me.  He  is  at  my  right 
hand,  I  shall  not  be  shaken.  Therefore  my  heart 
is  glad,  and  my  glory  rejoiceth ;  even  my  flesh  shall 
also  rest  in  peace.  For  Thou  wilt  not  doom  my  soul 
to  perdition;  neither  wilt  Thou  suffer  Thy  pious 
ones  to  see  corruption.  Thou  wilt  show  me  the  path 
of  life;  in  Thy  presence  is  fulness  of  joy,  at  Thy 
right  hand  everlasting  beatitude. 


.D  >  ♦  n  n    "1  D  D  92 

After  the  Maarib  prayer  the  following  Psalm  is  said,  after  which 
^■•"ip  is  recited. 

:     :  -  T  ;t        •     •    t      i :  it         •   t:  t  :  • 

>:  •  MV  T  -  •    T      I  T       T  T       -;  T        - 

!•  :  V  T  :  T     1:  IT  T   ;  -  T         ;  v  t    v 

w^r^vri  ^^-^d:  d^^dh  pbnii  T]^oln  nn>?  ^dIdi 

•    •  :  -      •  :it         •   t  -:       r     t  i      J    •  t     - 

V  -:         t     :         V        ;  -t -:  it  t  t  :  it  t  -:i-      |- 

T     ;        •    •  •  IT     :  •         •        :  •  ••       I   -         •  t  t  : 

■•3^  r\m\]2b  :\D)r2^'b2  ^:^r2'D  ^3  -i^dh ^ijab 

-  T       I  "T  IV        -       •     •    r         •  •  T         •;-.•: 

_.,_  .  -IV  T    I      :    •        -T    :        |-         •       :       vt- 

:nn^  nlisnb  rn^on  \r\n'^b  ^li^s:^^  ^vd2 

-  IT  .-•        I    :  I-  -;     I  ••   •         I  :    •  •    :  - 

nlD^y:  Tj^^D-n^^  r\)r\w  y^t:;  D^^n  n"i^5  ^jy^-iln 

•  :      )  V  T         v  T   :         -  •-  -         .  ..      .    , 

-IV     );    r     • 


91  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

May  the  All-merciful  render  us  worthy  to  behold 
the  days  of  Messiah,  and  of  the  eternal  life  in  a 
future  state.  He  giveth  great  (On  SabhcUh  and  New 
Moons  say :  He  is  a  tower  of)  salvation  to  His  king 
and  acteth  mercifully  towards  his  anointed,  to- 
wards David  and  his  progeny  for  ever.  May  He  who 
maketh  j)eace  in  His  high  heavens,  in  His  mercy, 
grant  peace  unto  us  and  unto  all  Israel,  and  say  ye, 
Amen. 


Fear  the  Eternal,  ye  His  holy  ones,  for  no  want 
have  those  who  fear  Him.  Even  young  lions  lack  and 
suffer  himger ;  but  they  who  seek  the  Eternal  shall 
not  lack  any  good.  Give  thanks  unto  the  Eternal, 
for  He  is  good,  for  His  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
Thou  openest  Thine  hand,  and  satisfiest  the  desire  of 
eveiy  living  being.  Blessed  is  the  man  who  trusteth 
in  the  Eternal,  for  the  Eternal  will  be  his  protection. 

I  have  been  young,  and  am  now  old,  yet  never  did 
I  see  the  righteous  entirely  forsaken,  nor  his  offspring 
begging  bread. 

The  Eternal  vn[\  give  strength  to  His  people :  the 
Eternal  "will  bless  His  j^eople  with  peace. 


In  the  house  of  moumiug  the  Mincha  ["n^tt]  and  Maarib  [D'*^1??2] 
prayers  are  said. 


.D  ' '  n  n    -I  D  D  90 

T        T       ■■•-;         -    r    T  -  •  \-—.  It-:   -T 

r\W0''  0^l:^J2  onv)b  P3C31  DTP  cM  b^iJD  I  ^<2^ 

.  V  .  .  .    .      -  ^     _ 

iD^lyny  ly'iibi  -ii"jb  in^pr^h  "ipn  nt^yi  d^d 
byi  )Tbv  uh\^  n^y  ^5in  vanm  uh^  nm 

~:         r-  T  T  V  -;-  t        :    •  t 

T    ••     •  :  -      I    ••      •  T      I:     t: 

T  :   :  -  t:     ••    :     :        i-  t:  t  •   •   .- 

?lT-n^5  nnlD  inon  oblyb  ^3  dI^o-^d  •'^bnln 

hvT        V     -  I"  :    -       T       :        •  •      T- 

n^oD^  ^m  '^2n  Tins  nli^n  ^n-b^  y^sra 

:lncDDD  ^^  n-'m  ^^s 

-  :    •     t:       t  t  :     t- 

Tv;v    I       •-        •     r    T  :       •  ;  Ji-t       -        •  r  t  -i- 

viT         )••-  :  :-: 

:uh'^2  1?3rn^5  rnyr-^  ^pr^  i^vh  fy  '»•' 

T  -  -         V       ;  "T  :     t:     I  ••  •         -  ;  t; 


In  the  house  of  mourning  the  Mincha  [nn;)0]  and  Maarib  [3'*"iy)3] 
prayers  are  said. 


89  THE   BOOK    OF  LIFE. 

the  All  raerciful  break  the  joke  of  captivity  from 
off  our  neck,  and  lead  us  in  security  to  our  land ! 
May  the  All-merciful  send  us  abundant  blessing 
on  this  house,  and  on  this  table  at  which  we  have 
eaten !  May  the  All-merciful  send  us  EHjah  the 
prophet  (of  happy  memory)  that  he  may  announce 
to  us  tidings  of  happines,  salvation,  and  consolation  1 
May  the  All-merciful  bless  [my  father*  and  instruc- 
tor] the  master  of  this  house,  and  [my  mother  and 
instructress]  the  mistress  of  this  house,  and  with 
them,  their  household,  their  children,  and  all  that 
belongs  to  them ;  us,  and  all  that  belongs  to  us ;  even 
as  our  ancestors  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob  were 
severally  blessed  in  all  things,  through  all  things  and 
with  all  things ;  thus  may  he  bless  us,  even  all  of  us 
altogether,  with  a  complete  blessing,  and  let  us  say, 
Amen. 

In  the  high  heaven  may  they  obtain  for  them  and 
for  us  the  felicity  of  the  Divine  guardianship  over  our 
welfare  that;  we  may  receive  a  blessing  from  the  Eter- 
nal and  righteousness  from  the  God  of  cm'  salvation, 
and  that  w^e  may  find  grace  and  due  regard  in  the 
eyes  of  God  and  man. 

On  Sabbath  say : 
May  the  All-merciful  cause  us  to  inherit  the  day 
that  is  all  Sabbath  and  repose  in  eternal  Hfe. 
On  New  Moon  say  : 
May  the  All-merciful  renew  this  month  for  us  as 
a  benefit  and  a  blessing. 


*  The  narao3  in  this  verse,  witbln  brackets,  are  omitted  if  the  parents  should 
not  ba  present,  and  other  uames  substituted  in  their  stead. 


•n  ' '  n  n    -I  D  D  88 

I"    T-         -••         I"  ■•.  :   •  I  T  -:   -T  T  : 

^5^^  rpnin  luan^^b  n?mlp  ^^j-hv  ^^im 

It-;    -t  I"    :  -  ;  •  -:  |  i--    •  : 

V    It:    ••.         -:        v-  •(--  t    ••. ;  t    t:         -   :    ' 

T*   ••         V        IT         -    ;    •  I  T  -:   -T  T   T  :i-  T  v 

IT  V   -     •  -  T  •  T  - 

(''D^5)  ^^5  t|it  ^^^^  ^pnin  :nlon:i  nlyi^;'' 

•  T  V       J  "T  :  I T  -:   -  T  T  v;  a 

rhv2  ^rnp  rm)  n^)  n-jn  h^dh  hv2  nio 
"b■^^5^  D!?nrn^5T  D^•'3-n^5^  dhI^^  n^n  n^sn 

T  v;        T    ;-        V :        t    ••  v;        t  v  -         -i  — 

-;t   :    •  V  :        IT         V  -:        t  v  ;       it  v  t  v  — 

:]D^  'i:2^yi  ,nDb^  hdid^  m^  ijb  13^^5  ti-id"" 

I  ••  T        -         :         T  ••   :         T    t;  •        -|-     it   •.        jt  I  -t  ; 

rniomh  'rir\p  hdt  ^ybv]  on^'py  npb^  DnD3 
Tib^D  npi^i^  -'^  nuio  nD"i3  ^ti^ji  ♦al^c:^ 

••     v:  ••         It  t:        t:  ••  ••  t    t:  t    ■;  t 

:D"i^{n  w^rb^  ^yv2  Dto  h^u)  \n'^)iDy\  w^^ 

T  T :  •      v:      ••   ••  :  v  i-  :    I  ••         t  :  •  ;        i-  :  • 

'    T  T 

T  :  V  -  V      I     -  V  ;  I"  T  ••  -    !  I  T  -;    -  T 

:  nsnnbi 


87  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

Console,  O  Lord,  our  God,  the  mourners  of  Jerusa- 
lem and  the  mourners  in  this  place.  Give  them  con- 
solation in  their  bereavement  and  grant  them  strength 
in  their  affliction.  As  it  is  ^\^.'itten :  like  the  man  com- 
forted by  his  mother,  thus  I  shall  comfort  you,  and 
in  Jenisalem  ye  will  be  consoled.  Blessed  art  Thou, 
O  Eternal,  Comforter  of  Zion  and  Jerusalem. 

Blessed  art  Thou,  O  Eternal,  our  God,  King  of  the 
universe.  Omnipotent !  our  Father,  our  King,  our 
Strength,  our  Creator,  our  Redeemer,  our  Holy  One, 
the  Holy  One  of  Jacob,  our  Shepherd,  the  Shep- 
herd of  Israel,  the  eternally  Hving  King,  who 
is  good  and  beneficent,  the  God  of  truth,  who 
judgeth  with  righteousness;  who  in  judgment  re- 
calleth  the  souls  of  His  childi'en,  who  iTdeth  over  His 
world  to  execute  His  "s\t11  ;  all  of  whose  ways  are  just 
towards  us  who  are  His  people  and  His  servants. 
And  for  all  these  things  we  are  bound  to  give  thanks 
imto  Him,  and  to  bless  Him  who  repaireth  the 
breaches  of  Israel.  May  He  repair  this  breach  for 
us,  and  for  all  His  people  of  the  house  of  Israel  unto 
life  and  peace ;  He  will  deal  bountifully  with  us, 
granting  us  grace,  favour  and  every  good ;  yea,  of  no 
good  "will  He  cause  us  to  be  deficient. 

May  the  All-merciful  reign  over  us  for  ever  and 
ever !  May  the  All-merciful  be  praised  in  heaven  and 
earth !  May  the  All-merciful  be  praised  throughout  idl 
generations,  be  glorified  among  us  to  everlasting,  and 
be  honoured  in  our  midst,  for  ever  and  to  all  eternity  ! 
May  the  All-merciful   sustain  us  with  honour !  May 


.n  ' '  n  n    1  D  D  86 

•■-  :     t:         t  -       J       T  IT  •■.  :         -i-T  •  V  :  •. : 

|-   T         ••  T  T        T        Jv  IV  I"     v:      t:         t  -        >        t 

Tj^DH  ,3py:  ^np  Wnp  ,i:^v^,i  ijj^-id  /ijsba 

T       :  •   -  :  T    :    •  :  t  :       -)i-    :         I     viv 

:  I-—.-         7   :     ■         T   T  :       T        •  :  •  -:- 

T    :  •   -         V  :  •  ••    T  :•  •  :  •         ••  -.-t  : 

nh^b)  Q^^n^  in-n  b^^n  bvm  irbyo  n^^-in 

T  :  •  -;  V  -        ••  T  T        -  ••  I •■  T  •• 

T   •  T  :  •  -:  -:       v  ivt   I   •         -t         i-  :  :  • 

lunpn^  b^  3liD 
^pnnn  nyi  D^iy^  iTbv  ipD'  v^n  -pnin 

I  T  -:  -T  VT      T      ;  I"  7     ;      :  •  It-;   -t 

n3n^''  ^^n  ']^DT}  *p.^?  °'i?¥^?  "^1?P'.  ^^^''i 

...  .      7     ;  -|..  .  ,T  _    .J      .      .  .  .  . 

iJDJiD^  ^^in  ,i?Dn-in  la^Q^ly  ^o'plybi  -iy^  ijs 

!••::-:  )  t  -;  -t  •  t  •• ;        :  -t         it 


85  THE  BOOK  OF  LITE. 

stand  in  need,  either  of  the  gifts  of  mankind,  or  of 
loans ;  but  let  us  depend  only  on  Thy  hand  which  is 
ever  full,   open,  holy,   and  hberal,  so  that  we  may 
never  be  put  to  shame  nor  confounded. 
On  Sabbath  add: 

Be  pleased,  O  Eternal,  our  God  !  to  felicitate  us  through 
Thy  commandments,  and  especially  through  the  command- 
ment of  the  seventh  day,  —  this  great  and  lioly  Sabbath  ; 
for  this  day  is  great  and  holy  in  Thy  presence,  that  we  may 
rest  thereon,  and  to  be  at  repose  thereon,  in  pious  love, 
according  to  the  command  of  Thy  will.  In  Thy  favour,  O 
Eternal,  our  God  I  grant  us  repose,  that  there  be  no  trouble, 
sorrow  or  sighing,  to  afflict  us  on  our  day  of  rest ;  but 
cause  us  to  behold,  O  Eternal,  our  God,  the  consolation  of 
Zion,  Thy  city,  and  the  rebuilding  of  Jerusalem,  Thy  holy 
city  ;  for  Thou  art  He  who  is  the  Lord  of  salvation,  and 
the  Lord  of  consolation. 

On  New  Moon  add : 

Our  God,  and  the  God  of  our  Fathers  !  suflFer  to  ascend, 
arrive,  approach,  appear,  and  be  accepted  ;  to  be  heard, 
borne  in  mind,  and  remembered  before  Thee,  our  memorial, 
and  the  memorial  of  our  fathers,  the  memorial  of  the  Mes- 
siah, the  son  of  David  Thy  servant,  the  memorial  of  Jeru- 
salem, Thy  holy  city,  and  the  memorial  of  all  Thy  people 
the  house  of  Israel,  to  obtain  for  us  deliverance,  happi- 
ness, grace,  favour,  and  compassion,  life  and  peace,  on  this 
first  day  of  the  month.  0  Eternal,  our  God,  remember  us 
thereon  for  good,  and  visit  us  thereon  with  a  blessing,  and 
save  us  thereon,  to  enjoy  life.  And  with  the  word  of 
salvation  and  mercy,  have  pity,  and  be  gracious  unto  us. 
O  have  compassion  upon  us,  and  save  us,  for  our  eyes 
are  towards  tiice,  because  thou,  O  God!  art  a  merciful 
and  compassionate  King^l 


.D  "  n  n    n  D  D  84 

I  :t:  ■  7  T  t:  -        ••  •  :         tt       t    t         -  :  - 

^^22  ^b^  n^nnm  n^i^npn  nninsn  n^^bm 

VT       T        :  ••  T  • 

On  Sabbath  add : 

nnrii^n  in  nq^bi  in-nn^'b  '^j^jcb  jss^n  tiiiip^i 
»btri  ^rnbij!.  \\  ^iDb  n^pn  '^jpil^lin  :  ^Di^r"}  ^isc^as 
"1^  ^ii^nm  •^snms^  t2vn  nn^jsii  lin  nns  "^nn 

t:  ••    :  -    :  ••  t  :  :  t  t  -;  -      )        t  :  xr  •    ; 

itrinrip  b^n^  m":?^tri-in  b:?5  J^^n  njri>?j "i?) 

On  l^evr  Moon  add: 

n&?!T-]  isJ-'VT  5sn"^^i  nb5?i  •^i'^riin^^:  ""nbi^T  ^':^^^b^. 
liipTi  ^5p>p5i  ^ipiDT  iDr"!  ip5^i  ^'^•iS';]  nisn;..! 
"ji-iDn  •  "^"iiiy,  TiTII  ^'^"^  V'^PTl  •  "i^^riini?; 
bi^nb^.  n^n  ':j?2:^;-b3  i1i?n  •'^pij^  ^"^5?  n^bip^*!": 
Di^nbq  tD^^pn^bT  "lonbn  "inb^  nnit:b^  ^t)^b5b  -"^^DSb 
in  ^li^tib:^.  ';'i^  ^DnpT  :  hiH  lu'inn  mi  ai^n  Dibirb^ 
.Q'l^'nb  in  -Di/.-^tpirTi  'H^nnb  in  ^^nps^  /nnit:b 
^5'^b5  tDnni  -^ipni  c^n  tD^^pnni  n:?^!!?"'.  "innn^ 
D^ni-i.-i^sn  {^^12)  b^S!''5  -^r'p^?  T-)^''?  • 'i^^."'P"ini 


88  THE  BOOK   OF  UFE. 

tlie  time  of  their  trouble,  didst  contend  for  their  cause, 
didst  judge  their  suit,  and  avenge  their  wrongs.  Thou 
didst  deliver  the  miglity  into  the  hands  of  the  weak  ;  the 
multitude  into  the  hands  of  the  few  ;  the  impure  into  the 
hands  of  the  undefiled  ;  the  wicked  into  the  hands  of  the 
righteous,  and  the  proud  into  the  hands  of  those  who 
engage  in  the  study  of  Thy  law.  Thus  didst  Thou  make 
unto  Thyself  a  great  and  holy  name  in  Thy  world;  and  didst 
work  a  great  salvation  and  redemption  for  Thy  people  Israel 
as  at  this  day:  After  this  Thy  children  entered  into  the  or- 
acle of  Thine  house,  cleansed  Thy  temple,  purified  Thy  holy 
place,  and  rekindled  the  lights  in  the  courts  of  Thy  holy 
house:  and  they  appointed  these  eight  days  of  dedication 
to  be  celebrated  with  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  Thy  great 
uame. 

And  for  all  these  things,  O  Eternal,  our  God !  we 
give  thanks  unto  Thee,  and  bless  Thee.  Blessed  shall 
Thy  name  continually  be  in  the  mouth  of  every  living 
being  for  ever  and  ever,  as  it  is  ■«Titten,  "T\nien 
thou  hast  eaten,  and  art  satisfied,  thou  shalt  bless 
the  Eternal,  thy  God,  for  the  goodly  land  which  He 
hath  given  unto  thee."  Blessed  art  Thou,  O  Eter- 
nal !  for  the  land  and  for  the  food. 

Have  compassion,  we  beseech  Thee,  O  Eternal,  our 
God!  on  Thy  people  Israel,  uj^on  Jenisaloni  Thy  city, 
on  Zion  the  residence  of  Thy  glory,  oil  the  kingdom 
of  tho  house  of  David,  Thine  anointed,  and  on  the 
great  and  holy  house  which  is  called  ])y  Thy  name. 
O  our  God,  our  Father!  feed,  sustain,  supp(u-t,  and 
maintain  us,  and  grant  ua  enlargement.  Enlarge  us 
speedily,  O  Eternal,  our  God !  from  all  our  troubles ; 
and  let  us  not,  we  i:)ray  Thee,  O  Eternal,  our  God  ! 


.D  ' '  n  n    n  D  D  82 

■    T        -  -    :  •  •         T        :    -       T  T    T    I  J    •  V  T        :    )  -    T  T 

Tni^  ^^51  ^i^n  ]'2  nns^i  -mn  tii^ns  ipisi  nMi3 

^p-'birn^  Tjpipyp-n^s:  ^nnpi  "^ibp^n-n^  ^ssq  'Tjti^s 

^bi<!  ns^n  ^)3';  n5i/2tp  ^5?npi  "^I'lJip  ninrsnn  tii"i5 

:  Mi5n  ^)2ti?'b  bbnb^  nininb 

DOiDm  T]b  Dnlo  i:m^^  )Trh^  ^-^  fen-':^yi 

•    -:t   :  )t  •  :  i — :  r-     v:    t:  -         -; 

nyi  uhr^b  tqh  ^h-'pd  ^ss  Tj^osi^Tp^n^  -nnl^ 

VT      T        :  •   T        -        T        •   :        I   :    •        ;   -t   :   •      J  t 

'bv  ^^n^^  ^'^n«  HDnii  nvDt:^!  rh^^)  3in33 

!    V     v:    t:         v      t  :    — ■       t  :  it  -  :     t  :  -  t  :  t  - 

•i-T         :       -:       )iv  -        •■    t:    •       -  r-     v:    t:        ••    - 

iA3bn  1:0:12  i::Ti  i:y-i  ,^:^D^^  irn^^5  :r^y 
,.. . .  _.    ,.. .  .-    ,..     ,.. .     ,.  ^     ,..  ...     ^  J 

-^Do  nnno  imb>^  -'^  i:S-nnm  i:n^nm 

T  •  -••  :  I"       v:      t:  it        -  :  - :  •••.-: 


gl  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

gooclness ;  with  grace,  kindness,  and  compassion,  He 
givetli  food  to  all  flesli,  for  His  mercy  endureth  for 
ever.  And  through  His  abundant  goodness,  food 
hath  not  yet  faUed  us,  nor  will  fail  us  for  evermore  : 
for  it  is  because  of  His  own  great  name  that  He 
feedeth  and  sustaineth  all  and  doeth  good  unto  all, 
and  provideth  for  all  His  creatures  which  He  hath 
created.  Blessed  art  Thou,  O  Eternal !  who  feedest 
all. 

We  give  thanks  imto  Thee,  O  Eternal,  our  God ! 
because  Thou  didst  cause  our  ancestors  to  inherit  the 
,  good,  desirable,  and  ample  land ;  and  because  Thou, 
O  Eternal,  our  God  !  didst  bring  us  forth  from  the 
land  of  Egypt,  and  didst  thus  redeem  us  from  the 
house  of  bondage :  and  because  of  thy  covenant  which 
Thou  didst  seal  in  our  flesh,  and  of  the  law  which 
Thou  hast  taught  us,  and  of  Thy  statutes  which  Thou 
hast  made  known  imto  us ;  and  because  of  the  life, 
grace,  and  kindness  which  Thou  hast  mercifully  be- 
stowed upon  us,  and  of  the  sustaining  food  where- 
with Thou  feedest  us,  and  sustainest  us  continually, 
every  day,  at  all  times,  and  at  each  moment. 
On  Hanuca  they  add : 

We  thank  Thee  likewise  for  the  miracles,  the  redemp- 
tions, the  mighty  deeds,  the  salvation,  and  triumph,  which 
thou  didst  perform  for  our  fathers,  in  former  times,  at  this 
seasoD. 

In  the  days  of  Matathias,  son  of  Jochanan  the  high 
priest,  and  his  sons,  when  the  iniquitous  government  of 
Greece  rose  up  against  Thy  people  Israel,  to  make  them 
forget  thy  law,  and  transgress  the  statutes  of  Thy  will  ; 
Thou,  in  Thine  abundant  mercy,  didst  rise  up  for  them  in 


.D  ' '  n  n    n  D  D  80 

br\n  iDiCODi  inon  nb)vb  ^3  nm'bjb  urb 

T  -  ;  ;   -        T      :  T  T       T  :        viv 

T        ;      I      T         IT         --:•.•  -:         IT  -   T  •    T 

••    :  -  :       It  •  t  -  :  -:-  vt 

♦^513  -im  vr\r'i2'bD:>  iIto  TDm  tab  d^cdoi 

TT  V  -:  T        • :         T  :      I      t     I     •  ••  -  •  •• 

I    VIV         I"       -:-     T  :  1-  ;  •  v         -        i"     v:   t:      I: 

I"     v:      t:  it      ••         v  -;  t  t     :  t  t  :  v 

Tjnn^-^yi  u^i2V  n^3p  un-^npi  Dn_vp  p.v^p 
-^yi  um?3^'^  "nnnln-Syi  )r\t22  nnnn^ 

-;  IT    :  -  •  V         I  :    T  -:  i-  t   :   •        t  :  i-  t  v 

it:-       V  vivT  I"  •-  -:        IT    :   -       V        I  )iv\ 

•T        IT  ••:-:       IT         t-t1t         -•-:         -:: 


T  T         t  : 


On  Hanuca  they  add : 

nn^stijnb  bi^nb-'  ^735?-b3?  n2>t5-in  nv  mDb^  m725?^'3 

T-:-:         ••t:-I:-         -         tt:t)tt  :-  t;tv, 

^1^)2)1-1.:^  HiHi^T  .'^ii^n  "^i^n??  DTn3?nbT  "^riT^ 


79  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

Oh,  may  this  happen  in  your  life-time  and  in  your 
days,  and  in  the  life-time  of  the  whole  house  of  Israel, 
speedily  and  without  delay,  and  say  ye, 

Amen.  May  His  omnipotent  name  be  blessed  for 
ever  and  ever  throughout  the  world. 

May  His  hallowed  name  be  praised,  glorified,  ex- 
toUed,  magnified,  honoured,  and  most  excellently 
adored,  in  expression  far  surpassing  all  blessings, 
hymns,  praises,  and  comforts  that  can  be  expressed 
in  the  world,  and  say  ye.  Amen. 

May  abundance  of  peace  and  happy  life  be  be- 
stowed upon  us  and  upon  all  Israel,  and  say  ye.  Amen. 

Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Eternal,  from  hence- 
forth and  for  evermore. 

May  He,  who  establisheth  peace  in  His  high  re- 
gions, grant  through  His  mercy  peace  to  us  and  aU 
Israel,  and  say  ye,  Amen. 

My  rehef  is  from  the  Eternal,  who  made  the 
heaven  and  earth. 


Then  they  say: 

Death  will  be  destroyed  for  ever,  and  the  Eternal 
God  will  wipe  away  tears  from  all  faces ;  and  the 
rebuke  of  His  people  shall  He  take  away  fi-om  oflf  all 
the  eaiih :  for  the  Eternal  hath  spoken  it. 


As  soon  as  the  mourners  come  homo  from  the  burial  ground  they 
are  offered  the  meal  of  condolence  (HNIDn  mirO),  which  goner- 
ally  consists  of  hard  boiled  eggs  and  bread.  After  having  par- 
taken of  this  meal  the  following  \V'Dr[  riDID  (graoe  after  the 
meal)  is  recited : 

Blessed   art  Thou,  O  Eternal,  our  God,  King  of 
the  universe !  who  feedeth  the  whole  world  with  Hia 


.  D  '  ♦  n  n    ■)  D  D  78 

rp2D  ^2-1  r\^^  ^r\]  :]m  iim]  ,yy^  |opi 
li^^DH^i  n2r\m  rn'2pr'  :^^nbv  ^Dbi?^i  nby^ 

-  f  .  . .        _  _  .   .  .      J   _^  .  .  ^  _  .    ^       •■  :   T  :  -  T  : 

HDi?:^  ^^nn^.i  rhvm  'rvnm  ^^t^]]  D^l'^n^l 

T    T    •   :       T  T    ;  •         T    I  •       T  !••:  ;      •;  t     :  )      : 

:in^5  na^5^  ^Db);i2  n^D>r\  ^5^omT  ^nn^ii^^n 

I  ••  T  :    •  :        T  :   T  :    )    T    •  -;  -        t  t  :  v:        t  t  :  :     •■. 

I"  T  •  •  -  :        T  -  :       I  •  T   -        T  T    : 

T  -:        T  -   :       It:t:        ■•        •: 

lyhv  uh^  nm-'  v^in  vonns  dbiz:^  n^v 

I  ••  T  :    •  ;        ••    T ;   •       t 

I    viTT         M-  T  ••  t;  •  ••  •:  V 

Then  they  say : 

bv^  nv^i  ^^  ^r\^  nm^i  ni^jb  ni?^n  vb2 

-  ••  T  :     •      t:       T      t:  t   t  '  vt  vt  -         -  • 

•'•'  ^3  Y^^n'b2-bv}2  n^D^  i^^y  nsnm  d^jd-^s 

t:       •      I    V  t  t         t         -  ••  •  T  -         -    :  V :  •  t        t 

n^i 

As  soon  as  the  mourners  come  home  from  the  burial  ground  they 
are  offered  the  meal  of  condolence,  (."iNl^n  mirO)  which  gener- 
ally consists  of  hard  boiled  eggs  and  bread.  After  having  par- 
taken of  this,  the  following  grace  after  the  meal,  (]T1?2n  JlDID) 
is  recited. 

"H^?  i-in  ,Db)vr\  "n^D  u^ibv^  ,^^  nnvX  TinD 

V     It-  t        t        Jviv  r*      v;     t;         t  -       j       t 


^  THE  BOOK   OP  LIFE. 

evil  shall  befall  thee,  neither  shall  any  plague  ap- 
proach thy  dwelling:  for  He  will  give  His  angels 
charge  concerning  thee,  to  guard  theo  in  all  thy 
ways.  They  shall  bear  thee  on  their  hands,  lest  thou 
dashest  thy  foot  against  the  stones.  Upon  the  fierce 
lion  and  adder  slialt  thou  tread,  the  young  lion  and 
the  di'agon  shalt  thou  trample  under  foot.  Because 
he  delighteth  in  me  will  I  dehver  him  ;  I  -wdll  exalt 
him  because  he  hath  known  my  name.  When  he 
calleth  upon  me  I  will  answer  him  ;  I  will  be  Avith 
him  in  distress ;  I  will  deliver  him,  and  grant  him 
honor.  With  length  of  days  will  I  satisfy  him,  and 
make  my  salvation  manifest  unto  him. 


"When  the  coflin  is  lowered  into  the  grave,  the  following  is  to 
he  repeated: 

May   [he]    [she]   come  to   [his]    [her]    appointed 
place  in  peace. 


After  the  corpse  is  deposited  in  the  grave,  the  above  Psalm  22?1^ 
"inCD  is  repeated ;  after  which  the  mourners  recite  the  following 
■C^-ipCKaddish): 

May  His  (God's)  great  name  be  exalted  and  sanc- 
tified in  that  world  m  which  He  is  ready  to  renovate 
and  to  revive  the  dead,  and  to  restore  them  to  an 
everlasting  life.  Then  will  the  city  of  Jerusalem  be 
rebuilt,  the  temple  be  erected  therein,  the  worship 
of  idols  eradicated,  and  the  only  true  heavenly  wor- 
ship restored  to  its  primitive  dignity.  Then  will 
tlie  Holy  One  (blessed  be  He)  rule  in  His  majestic 
glorj'. 


.0  ♦ '  n  n    n  D  D  76 

-^D3  ^in^b  T)^-nj^^.  VD^bD  ^D  :'^,^n,??  ^np-! 
:^^^n  ]2^'2  ri:in-]s  t];i^5|»^  n^sr^y  :'^^.5"n 
^p  ^D  :p^^ni  n^DD  D?onn  Tji-in  ]nDi  Sni^-by 

]  ...  ,.. ;  - -;i-        ••:--:        TT  :       -it  •         •••.■:ivi: 

!•    T   I      •  ••    :  -:  ....    -  •  1 


"WTien  the  coffin  is  lowered  into  the  grave,  the  following  is  to 
be  repeated : 

:nhm  {^2n)  ^"t  (hdIpd)  )^dd  bv 


After  the  corpse  is  deposited  in  the  grave,  the  above  Psalm  22?^ 
inSD  is  repeated ;  after  which  the  mourners  recite  the  following 
2?*'np  (Kaddish) : 

1         :  T      It  T   -  :  t  -  ••         t  T-:  - ;  t    t  -   ;     •  :  •  t 

^bbDCL^bi  Dbi;:^-iT-n  ^mp  ^22r2bi  ^robv  "^^n^ 

T  T  :  -  :  ••    :        :        •        t    :)-        ■  :    •  :  t  :    t      •■-: 

T    :  -    I  •  T    t:  t  t  :  t        I  -  :  v  :  —  :        ■•  ;     .. 

■n^^D^i  n-^in^b  ^^m'^i  ^-::nbs  ^-^Dn^bi 

}  '    :  —.  •• :   -  :  T  -  :  •  t  t  :   t  t   t  -:-  : 


76  THE  BOOK   OP  LIFE. 

in  Tlij  liaud:  for  righteousness  filleth  Thy  right 
hand.  O  have  mercy  on  the  remnant  of  Thy  flock, 
and  say  unto  the  angel:  withdraw  thy  hand.  O 
Thou,  who  art  great  in  coimsel  and  mighty  in  deeds, 
whose  All-seeing  eye  is  open  upon  the  ways  of  the 
children  of  men,  to  give  every  one  according  to  the 
fruits  of  his  works — to  manifest  that  the  Eternal  is 
upright :  He  is  my  Rock,  in  whom  there  is  no  in- 
iquity. The  Eternal  hath  given,  and  the  Eternal 
hath  taken  away ;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
But  He,  the  most  merciful,  forgiveth  iniquity,  and 
destroy eth  not ;  but  often  tumeth  aside  His  anger, 
and  awakeneth  not  all  His  wrath. 


"WTien  carrying  the   corpse  to   the   grave  the    following  psalm  is 
repeated  several  times : 

He  who  dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most 
High,  shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty. 
I  say  unto  Thee,  the  Eternal  is  my  refuge  and  fortress, 
my  God,  in  whom  I  trust.  He  will  surely  dehver 
thee  from  the  fowler's  snare,  and  from  the  dcstnictivo 
pestilence.  He  will  cover  thee  with  His  pinions,  and 
under  His  wings  shalt  thou  take  refuge  ;  His  truth 
shall  bo  thy  shield  and  buckler.  Thou  shalt  not  be 
afraid  of  the  terror  of  the  night  nor  of  the  arrow  wliich 
flieth  by  day  ;  nor  of  the  destruction  that  wasteth  at 
noon-day.  A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side,  and 
a  myi'iad  at  thy  right  hand ;  but  imto  thee  it  shall 
not  come  nigh.  Thou  shalt  only  behold  it  with 
thine  eyes,  and  see  the  retribution  of  the  wicked ; 
because  thou  hast  made  the  Eternal,  who  is  my 
refuge,  even  the  Most  High,  thy  stronghold.     No 


.D  ' '  n  n    ">  D  D  74 

^■"J^  *'^7,  HT-  "^l^"?^^!?  "lo^^'m.  ♦'^7,t^"^  nco';5D 

T  -  )••.  :        I  IV    ••        V  -.-        T'     •  -:  T  -;         t   --t 

:vbbyo  nDDi  vrro  ^^^b  r\rh  ♦d-i^^  ^:d  ^dh 

T  T  -:-        • :   •  :      t    t  :  •  •  :  •■  t  t  t      ••  :      ••    :  - 

I  -  T     t:  tit  ;  -  :        •  t:         t  t      •  •  -      : 

m  nsD^  an-i  v^^-m  itiidd  ^^  d^  ^t  .np^  -'^i 

It--:  -  :         >   t     :     t:        ••        •  :  Itt      t- 

-bs  Tv^  ^b)  135^  2^mh  HDim  n^ns:?^  ^^bi 

T  'T  :  -  •    T     :         T    :  •  :  •    :  - 

:lnon 


When  carrying  the  corpse  to  the  grave,  the  follo'wing  psalm  is 
repeated  several  times : 

rtrvb  nd^5  :\yhD^  ^1^  b)i2  \vbv  inD2  2^-^ 

I :     I  •  -  •  I  -;•.■-        •.•:        •    t    i    :  •    :  - 

nnni  rf^  rj^^^Airro^^  :nl]n  "iDip  ^^p;^  nsp 

t    •         I  1   •  -:  t"  I  :  T  •  V    :   V        T  T  : 

Tjbni  bp\<2  "iD^p  :ur2V  ?]iy;  ynp  n^^b  "insp 

T  T    :        Iv    V        I   :  •    •  •  'iTTriT  t        vlv  • 

nobp]  ^-^2^  TpTV2  pn  im-^^  ^b  rpb^  '?)TO''p 
]vbv  "^DHD  nin^  nn>?-^3  in^^in  n^''W'\ 

I     :  V       •    :  -  -     :  t    -       i-  iv   :  •  •  t     : 

'^b  y:i:i  nui  ?l''b^<  n:^?n-^^S  :^:li7a  hde^ 

I         -v:  T  T     )  V     ••  V  ••.  :  I  )iv       ;      t   :  ~ 


73  THE   BOOK   OF  LITE. 

and  beneath,  who  taketh  away  life  and  giveth  it, 
and  bringeth  down  to  the  gi*ave  and  raiseth  up  there- 
from? Ho  is  the  Rock — perfect  in  all  His  works: 
who  shall  say  unto  Him,  What  doest  Thou?  Thou, 
who  promisest  and  fiilfillest,  show  Thy  gi-acious 
mercy  unto  us;  and  for  the  sake  of  him  who  was 
bound  on  the  altar  like  a  lamb,  O  hearken  to  our 
supplication,  and  grant  our  request.  Thou,  who 
art  righteous  in  all  Thy  ways,  Rock  of  perfection, 
long-suffering,  and  abundant  in  mercy,  we  beseech 
Thee,  have  pity  and  compassion  on  us,  and  spare 
both  the  fathers  and  the  children ;  for  luito  Thee,  O 
Eternal,  appeiiains  compassion  and  forgiveness. 
Righteous  art  Thou,  O  Eternal,  in  taking  away  or 
giving  life ;  for  in  Thy  hand  are  deposited  all  spirits. 
Far  be  it  from  Thee  to  blot  us  from  memory.  O  let 
Thine  eyes  be  open  towards  us  in  mercy ;  for  Thou 
art  the  Lord  of  compassion  and  pardon.  If  a  man 
hveth  one  year,  or  he  Hveth  a  thousand  years,  what 
availeth  it  ?  for,  is  he  not  as  though  he  had  never 
been?  Blessed  be  the  true  Judge,  who  taketh  away 
and  giveth  life  :  blessed  be  He,  for  His  judgments 
are  true :  and  with  His  eye  He  surveyeth  all  things, 
and  rewardeth  man  according  to  his  works.  Let  all 
men  therefore  praise  His  name.  We  know,  O  Eter- 
nal, that  Thy  judgments  are  righteous ;  Thy  judg- 
ments are  pure,  none  shall  presume  to  question  Thy 
justice.  Righteous  art  Thou,  O  Eternal !  and  right- 
eous are  Thy  judgments.  Thou  art  the  true  Judge : 
for  all  Thy  judgments  are  fomided  on  tnitli.  Blessed 
bo  Thou,  the  trae  Judge  :  for  all  Thy  judgments  are 
just  and  true.     The  soul  of  every  H-siug  creature  is 


.□  ' '  n  n    1  D  D  72 

^^^  ♦^y.Jl  ^W  "i'")"i?^  ♦'T.npi  n^PP  ♦^^.p^ii 

T  V  -:  -         -  -       I     ■  V   -:-        T  :  •   t 

"ip^.-P.Ll  nDTDi  .nt^^yn  uS  a^n  -ipn  -nfe^yi 
-Dim  ^rbr2n  j2^Dm  ^br^i  u^b^  rn^  .d^dh 

.nlnp^  i3:np !  t]^  rht^n  .nlnn-^3  jnpB  tjts 
T]b  ^3  ♦ninps  i^^h^y  a^pnnD  Tj^j^y  ^<:  r.Ti 

V :   •       T  T      I V        •  T  7  •    :    -  :  •  -:   -  t    1       t 

V :   •       T  T  :  1        :   •        -         v  :  •  ■  t        Iviv 

^p  »i<in  "T]n3  inp.ra  n^pp  ♦np^^n  |n  Tjns 
Di^b  D^^pi  .l^-^yp  b"3n  ididWdi  ♦la^n  to^j 
'^  ijy"]^  :ijn^  n^iin  iQi^S)  ^sm  Jam  )y\2m 

T.  :  i-T         I-  •        T  7  :      •  -  :  •:  :    v 

''  nn^^  p^-iV  ♦*^pi^  r-^lP  "in^<  "innn^  p^^ii 

V  v:-.-  )     VIV         ••  V    v:     l7  -         I  IV  T    :     ■  t  t: 

m2  :n2^)  pi)i  v\DB^D'b3d  .no^n  i^n  rim 

VIV  vv;v)     viv       TT   :     •         7v  v  v;  t    J- -     )       i 


71  THE   BOOK   OF  LITE. 

And  may  it  be  Thy  sacred  will  to  accept  the  soul 
of  the  dear  departed,  (N.  N.),  into  the  abode  of  ever- 
lasting bhss,  among  the  souls  of  the  pious  and  right- 
eous, the  dwellers  of  heaven,  the  inheritors  of  etern- 
ity.    Amen. 


On  the  arrival  of  the  funeral  at  the  burial  ground,  the  coffin  is 
placed  on  the  bier,  and  the  foUowiug  prayers  are  solemnly  recited. 
(At  the  burial  of  infants,  less  than  thirty  days  old,  these  prayers 
are  not  said). 

Blessed  be  the  Eternal  God,  King  of  the  universe, 
who  formed  you  injustice,  maititained  and  supported 
you  in  justice,  who  caused  you  to  die  in  justice,  who 
knoweth  the  number  of  all  of  you  in.  justice,  and  who 
is  prepared  to  resuscitate  you  in  justice.  Blessed  art 
Thou,  O  Eternal,  the  reviver  of  the  dead. 

Thou,  O  Eternal,  art  mighty  for  ever :  it  is  Thou 
who  revivest  the  dead,  and  art  mighty  to  save.  Thou 
maintainest  the  living  by  mercy,  quickenest  the  dead 
with  gi-eat  mercy :  supportest  the  fallen,  and  healest 
the  sick :  Thou  releasest  the  captives,  and  art  ready 
to  accomphsh  Thy  faith  unto  those  who  slumber  in 
the  dust.  "Who  is  like  unto  Thee,  O  mighty  Lord? 
or  who  can  be  compared  unto  Thee  ?  O  King,  who 
orderest  death,  and  restorest  to  life,  and  causest 
salvation  to  spring  forth. 

God,  the  Rock,  His  deeds  are  perfect ;  for  all  His 
ways  are  just.  He  is  the  God  of  truth,  and  -without 
iniquity ;  He  is  just  and  righteous.  He  is  the  Rock 
of  all  perfection — perfect  in  all  His  works : — who  can 
say,  What  doest  Thou — to  Him  who  ruleth  above 


.0  ' '  n  n    -)  D  D  .  70 

ps  .rp'^m  nnv3  invp  '^^^^^  nac^j  n^|ii 


On  the  arrival  of  the  funeral  at  the  burial  ground,  the  coffin  is 
placed  on  the  bier,  and  the  following  prayers  are  solemnly  recited. 
(At  the  burial  of  infants,  less  than  thirty  days  old,  these  prayera 
are  not  said). 

-T        V   -:        T        T        Jviv  ••     v:    t:  t     -        )       t 

^1^&7  "I'P^l  .]^i2  mVs  nspp  nvi  »pn3 
iD^npn  HTO  ^^:  nn^^  t]to  :pn3  Dpnvnn^i 

Di  nn^^  D^no  n^no  '':i^^  D^ly':'  nlDJi  nn^s 

T  -  -  :       T      -;        T       :  •  t  - 

DniDiNi  n^npi  D^^in  ^5D11  uh^):  "riplD  o'^s") 
niniD,T  bv2  TjipD  ^p  nDy  ^:?^^b  ^r\y\m  D^ppfl 
.nyii^^  n^Diioi  n^n?3i  n^m  t]':)o  ti^  nan  ^d^ 

b^    .CDSti^D   VD-n-^D  ^3  ibyD  D^DH  115^.1 


T     T   :         T 


D^DH  miin  :^5in  ni::^^i  p^na  ."^ly  r^^i  n:)r2^ 

•    T  -,  T  t;    )        •-  VI T    I    •• :         T       v: 


69  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

Before  removing  the  corpse  from  the  house  of  mourning  to  th« 
burial  ground,  the  following  prayer  is  recited  by  the  minister  or 
any  other  person.* 

Almighty  God !  Lord  of  all  flesli  and  all  spirits, 
Creator  of  the  universe,  Sustainer  of  all  -with  wisdom 
and  grace !  Thou  triest  man's  heart,  and  nothing  is 
hidden  fi-om  Thine  all-seeing  eye ;  Thou  art  our 
tower  of  strength  by  day  and  by  night ;  and  our  lives 
are  in  Thy  hand.  Through  Thy  mercy  we  prosper ; 
through  Thy  will  we  die.  Thou  commandest,  and 
we  return  Thee  our  soul  which  Thou  hast  given  us. 
Who  is  Uke  unto  Thee,  Presers^er  of  all  creatures? 
Who,  like  Thee,  supports  the  fallen,  and  fi-ees  the 
enthi-alled?  Whenever  our  spirits  are  wrapt  in 
gloom ;  whenever  a  day  of  wi'ath  and  ^dsitation 
Cometh,  we  raise  our  tearful  eyes  in  prayer  to  Thee, 
and  crave  Thy  love  and  mercy.  When  cruel  death 
makes  his  appearance  in  our  abodes  and  snatches 
away  one  of  those  whose  heart  is  bound  up  with 
ours,  and  thus  spreads  darkness  and  desolation  in 
the  midst  of  our  families :  O  then,  heavenly  Father, 
we  hft  up  our  afflicted  hearts  to  Thee,  invoking  Thy 
paternal  help  and  Thy  consolation ;  for  Thou  alone 
canst  console  us. 

Thus,  merciful  God,  even  now,  in  this  house  of 
mourning  we  humbly  beseech  Thee :  grant  Thy  con- 
soling and  sanctif_)dng  spirit  to  these  moui-ners ; 
grant  that  they  may  be  able  to  bear  their  trial  with 
spuitual  fortitude  and  trust  in  Thee.  May  they  fully 
comprehend  that  Thou  art  a  "  Righteous  Judge." 


•  TliiB  prayer,  in  Hebrew  and  English,  is  an  original  compositiou  of  Rov.  Dt 
Vjsatkb,  iUbbi  of  the  Cougregatioa  B'nai  Jahurun,  JSew  York. 


•D  ' '  n  n    -)  D  D  68 

Before  removing  the  corpse  from  the  house  of  mourning  to  the 
bui'ial  ground,  the  following  prayer  is  recited  by  the  minister  or 
any  other  person : 

I    •  ••  T   T  :       -        7  :      I  ••  T        ■•     v: 

uv  ):b  ]iv  r\r\^  ^rny^v  mD  nno:  i\^?i  >2b  ^3 

T  T  -         )    V    ••       viv  •  T   :   •    )    ••  :        ••         T 

t^n;^  ^b]  >TDPi  npn J  t]d  ^tj-^td  on  ^T'^n\  b-h) 
*^W.  ^b]  n^b^2]  b^2m  ^ipn3  ,y;Di  iw 

T-T         T  T-;-        It  t       ):  ;•  t- 

••  T   •    :  :       I:     I     -         •    ••  t   •       :         tt  • : 

7  -  -  :  -7  :  -         :t  :  7        ":      I: 

'Hnp^  iJnnsi^pp  ib'^bc;:;^  'i:i3ipp  p]"}.^  ?^npb 

7-  -:-    7     • -:  -         J    :  ••        :  -  ;       v  7-.-  I7  7      7 

i<-ip:  n^D  n:ly  b.x  rj^^b^  pn  ;i::npD  ypiz;: 

T.  .•:         -  7        -    :     •         •  -  7    •  7  - :        -     ..  -    |  - 

NJ.V  T(h^  bb^r\2  n\  bi}^  mpp  nny  □;  n^p 
:)iJTi  p^3:  ^jn^rij  1D^  nbi^  'D^.^d^ih  to:  p-in 


67  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

Before  depositing  the  corpse  on  the  floor,  (which  is  generally  done 
one  hour  after  death),  the  following  verses  are  repeated : 

O  house  of  Jacob,  come,  we  will  walk  in  the  light 
of  the  Eternal.  The  Omnipotent  Eternal  God  hath 
spoken  and  proclaimed  to  the  earth,  even  from  where 
the  sun  riseth  to  the  place  where  it  sets:  "peace 
shall  come,  and  they  shall  be  at  rest  in  their  place 
of  repose;  for  dust  thou  art,  and  unto  dust  shalt 
thou  return." 


When  pouring  the  water  on  the  corpse,  the  following  verses 
are  recited  : 

And  he  poured  of  the  anointing  oil  upon  the  head 
of  Aaron,  and  he  anointed  him  to  sanctify  him.  From 
this  day  He  (God)  will  atone  for  you  to  purify  you ; 
from  all  your  sins  ye  shall  be  cleansed .  before  the 
Eternal.  And  I  will  j30iu'  upon  you  pure  water,  and 
ye  shall  be  cleansed;  fr-om  all  your  uncleanliness 
and  abomination  will  I  purify  you.  And  ye  shall 
be  holy,  for  I,  the  Eternal  your  God,  am  holy. 

Purification !    Purification !    Purification ! 


When  the  cap  is  put  on  the  head  of  the  deceased,  the  following 
verse  is  said : 

And  he  put  the  mitre  upon  his  head. 


When  the  corpse  is  put  into  the  coffin,  the  following  is  said : 

May  [he]  [she]  go  to  [his]  [her]  appointed  place 
in  peace. 


.□  ' '  n  n    1  D  D        ,  66 

Before  depositing  the  corpse  on  the  floor  (which  is  generally 
done  an  hour  after  death)  the  following  verses  are  repeated : 

T  :  -        viv  ^.  ■    .     I    ...|T         tI:  —      V    • 


T  |-  T    T 


T  T    T 


"When  pouring  the  water  on  the  corpse,  the  following  verses 
are  recited. 

^n^b  □D^b>y  nsD:  nn  dv2  ^2  :Wipb  Inl5^ 
\'^P"in  :nn:on  ^^  ^:^b  □D^n^?■OT  b^D  ♦aD^^5 

•  I;    -t:  t    ;      ■      t:      ••  :    •         v     ••  -         t    •  v    :  v 

□D^ni^^p^  b3D  upnnpi  anln:p  n^o  ^^'bv 
oi?^np  Dn^>"ii  lUDm  '^nm  ap^^fe  h3Di 

t:      •  -:  It      • 

:r\')niD  ^nnnto  ♦nine: 

T-.-  T-;  -  T -: - 


"WTien  the  cap  is  put  on  the  head  of  the  deceased,  the  following 
verse  is  said  : 


When  the  corpse  is  put  into  the  coffin,  the  following  is  said : 

IDlbil^^D  (^SlDH  r\DprO  bv  nn^pab)  ^5lD^  lOlDD  bv. 

T   :  T        T   I    :        -  T         I    :        - 


65  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

O  may  mj  sincere  repentance,  my  affliction,  my 
death,  be  an  atonement  for  all  my  sins  by  which  I 
have  sinned,  offended  and  trespassed  before  Thee 
dui'ing  my  earthly  pilgi'image.  For,  verily,  I  have 
acted  foohshly ;  my  e-vil  inclination  has  beguiled  me ; 
O  God,  doom  not  my  soul  to  perdition,  but  gi*ant  me 
a  portion  in  the  garden  of  Eden,  in  the  assembly  of 
the  saints  and  pious  ones.  Deign  that  I  may  be 
worthy  of  paiiicipating  in  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead,  and  in  the  ti'anquil  bhss  of  a  futui'e  world, 
which  is  a  one  and  everlasting  Sabbath — when  my 
soul  will  feast  on  that  abundance  of  good  which 
Thou  hast  laid  up  with  Thee  as  an  inheritance  for 
the  righteous ;  as  vouchsafed  by  Thy  sacred  word: 
"  I  mil  cause  m}^  friends  to  inherit  everlasting  sub- 
stance; and  theh  treasures  I  will  fill."  And  may 
my  soul  be  bound  up  in  the  bundle  of  life,  and  enjoy 
everlasting  happiness  with  the  pious  and  saints  in 
the  garden  of  Eden.     Amen. 


The  following  verses  are  to  be  pronounced  distinctly  and  solemnly 
by  those  who  surround  the  death  bed,  seeing  that  life  is  dcparliug. 

The  Eternal  eeigneth,  the  Eternal  hath  reign- 
ed, THE  Eternal  shall  reign  for  ever  akd  bveh. 

Blessed  be  the  name  of  His  glorious  kingdom 
FOR  ever  and  ever.     (Repeat  three  times). 

The  Eternal  is  the  only  God.  (Repeat  seven  times). 

Hear,  O  Israel,  the  Eternal  is  our  God,  the 
Eternal  is  one. 

The  bystanders  should  be  mindful  that  the  words  inX  'n,  (signi- 
fying the  All-merciful  God,  who  is  one  and  eternal),  should  bo 
repeated  at  the  very  moment  when  the  8u£ferer  expires. 


•D  ' '  n  n    "1  D  D  64 

''n^^'^sn-^D-by  nnD3  ^nn'^Di  nyyi  ^nyi^D  ^"im 

:   ■         I IV  T  :  •   :  i-  T   v  :        •   i-  t  v  ;         •       it  7  v 

•  T    •  :  V  :    -  :       •    r    7      •        •  :i-   :    •        •  •  t    :  - 

□Sly^i  D^nr^n  n^nnb  n^i^^i  ably  p^^!i-Dy  ny 
Di:o  D"i?pi  ^^^^  js^np  Jijynn'p  n^i;^  I'p^^  ^dh 
-^Db  '^^npn  "^^^^  nicely  ^"m  o^p^i^^  pD^^n 
rpriv^^  ^'n:n^  Din33  r'pi^nip^^  Tjpyp  p^n^T  p^^^ 

:nbD 

T  I  V 

The  following  verses  are  to  be  pronounced  distinctly  and  solemnly 
by  those  "who  surround  the  death  bed,  seeing  that  life  is  departing. 

:  ~J?,1  n'piy'?  inD'pa  -135  de;'  "^ina 

v:  T  t: 


:"inN3  in?2r:  rN*ii*7  iron 


ORDER   OF  PRAYERS. 


The  following  prayer  is  to  bo  recited  by  a  person  conscious  of 
the  approaching  hour  of  death. 

I  beseecli  Thee,  Almighty  God !  God  of  Israel, 
who  art  everlasting  and  immutable,  awfully  sublkae 
and  holy.  In  Thy  hands  are  the  souls  of  all  li^dng, 
and  the  spuits  of  all  flesh  of  man.  I  humbly  ac- 
knowledge before  Thee,  that  it  is  Thou  who  hast 
created  me,  and  breathed  within  me  the  breath  of  life ; 
it  is  Thou  who  hast  reared  me,  and  delivered  me 
from  aU  my  troubles ;  it  is  Thou  who  hast  provided 
for  me  m  all  my  wants,  my  sustenance  and  main- 
tenance, during  all  the  days  of  my  life.  Yea,  it  i  i 
Thou  who  wast  always  with  me,  and  never  forsook- 
est  me.  The  moment  has  now  amved  nt  wliich  I 
have  to  retin'n  to  Thee  the  soul  which  Thou  hast 
deposited  withui  mc.  O  Creator  of  all!  mayest 
Thou  receive  back  fi'om  me  this  sacred  deposit  in 
mercy  and  peace,  and  may  its  departure  be  neither 
disturbed  or  affrighted  by  the  vision  of  the  angel  of 
death.  O,  hide  me  in  the  shade  of  Thy  A\Tngs ;  and 
as  Thou  hast  dealt  ^\-ith  me  in  Thy  mercy  and  hi 
Thy  timth,  from  my  existence  until  this  day,  so  do 
Thou,  even  now,  bestow  Thy  compassion  and  tnith 
upon  my  body  and  soul.  I  beseech  Thee,  send  Thy 
angels  of  mercy  and  truth  to  attend  the  last  moment 
of  my  existence,  to  receive  my  soul,  and  to  r<^store 
her  to  her  heavenly  source — the  garden  of  Edon,  in 
the  celestial  circle  of  the  departed  pious  and  right- 
eous, and  may  my  body  also  rest  in  the  grave  in 
peace  and  quietude. 


The  following  prayer  is  lu  be  recited  b}'  a  persou  conscious  of 
the  approachin}^  hour  of  death. 

T  T)  -:       -        ••   T  :    •       ••     v:  •      v:    t:       t  t 

nm  ^rrb^  ^dh  rii^2  ^m  nn^^  ^mip)  dtoi 

-     I :     T        T         viv     )  :t  :        v  -:        t  -  I  t:  t 

T  i-  T :      •  i-      T  :  V       )  IV  T ;         •  -;         V  •  -    :        t 

nn^T  pnn!^-^2D  ^:nbym  ^:n^i:.m  rnroi^*:  ^2 

ti-t:        t  t  t'       •!-:"•:      -i":-:":         "t:- 

ti-t;--  ••  :  T       •  T  T    :-         ~          :        ■    :  t          t 

T       -  :  ••  T  T  r  •            ••  •          •  IT  :  — :            :       •  -  • 

T               I  -          ■  TI-T         V     -:          •   T    :    •       )     :  •-;-•.• 

)  IV  T  :  ••  :       '!•••:-        ■  r— :  -  :        •    i   -;-  :        -  :       vit 

•   T  :    • :      •  •        V  v:v       v  iv      -   t       t       t  ;      ;t       v- 

♦CTDnni  D^p^i^n  n1?2iz:^rb^?  ]iv.]^b  HD^^Inb 

t   :        I-  :    -   :  T       :  T        :    ■         v)iv-     -    i  t        •       : 

iD^nDH  n^nps  invnnb  tjid-i  ^12  ny  ny 


61  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

day  is  afterwards  to  be  solemnized  as  the  anniver- 
sary ;  but  we  are  not  entitled  to  repeat  D'^np,  in  case 
there  are  other  mourners  in  synagogue. 

136.  *]i"ia  m"ii)  and  nu'ia^n  ns:?:b  are  to  be  chanted 
at  nnr)  ij^sito,  in  the  house  of  mourning,  -wathin  the 
nsno,  and  the  prayer  'n  »:s*  (generally  recited  after 
the  delivery  of  the  discourse)  is  not  to  be  repeated 
on  those  days  when  -^i^nn  is  not  said. 

137.  Mourners  are  permitted  to  repeat  the  r.rns 
n:zb  (blessing  said  on  the  appearance  of  the  new 
moon),  when  the  time  set  apart  for  that  service  ex- 
pires before  the  termination  of  the  n:?nt3. 

138.  No  'p'D  must  touch  the  remains  of  his  sister 
by  his  mother's  side,  though  she  had  been  single, 
nor  is  he  permitted  to  be  in  the  room  where  the 
corpse  Ues. 


THE   BOOK   OF  LEPE.  60 

more  than  one  day  intervenes  between  death  and 
interment ;  hence  persons  who,  die  on  the  fifth  of  the 
month  of  p-:,  in  a  common  year,  but  the  ensuing 
year  is  a  n-im^Ja  nra  (an  embohsmic  year),  the 
mourners  are  to  say  "Jinp  till  the  fifth  of  -^vri*"!  n-s 
(first  Adar).  The  twelve  months  of  mourning  term- 
inate on  the  fifth  day  of  the  second  Adar,  and  on 
the  fifth  day  of  the  month  of  Nisan  (which  is  the 
thii'teenth  month)  the  anniversary  is  to  be  solem- 
nized, for  the  reason  stated  above,  viz.,  that  the 
anniversary  is  always  to  be  observed  on  the  same 
day  of  the  month  that  death  took  place. 

131.  The  Jahrzeit  (anniversary)  of  those  persons 
who  die  on  "^r::  "^-^  is  to  be  solemnized  in  every  sub- 
sequent embolismic  year  in  "y::  ms,  on  the  same  day 
when  death  took  place. 

132.  The  relatives  of  those  persons  who  die  on 
the  first  day  of  nn  urs^n  Bosh  Chodesh,  are  to  keep  the 
anniversary  in  every  subsequent  year  on  the  same 
day ;  and  in  case  it  takes  place  on  the  second  day  of 
c~n  r^-i,  the  mourners  have  to  solemnize  the  anniver- 
sary on  the  second  day  of  a-n  rxi. 

133.  If  a  person  die  on  the  second  day  of  "j-n  rH-i, 
but  the  subsequent  year  of  that  month  has  only  one 
day  a-n  rsi,  the  anniversary  is  to  be  kept  on  the 
day  of  r-n  rj<n. 

134.  Some  are  accustomed  to  keep  the  anniversary 
of  those  who  die  in  -|-»  (embohsmic  year),  both  in 
"jirs-.  "i-;st  and  ":r  --j*. 

135.  In  case  we  are  not  certain  of  the  anniversary, 
■vre  are  allowed  to  choose  any  day  in  the  year,  which 


V/ 


^''^V^^ 


59  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

ceremonies  of  mourning  are  to  be  observed  during 
the  whole  twelve  months. 

127.  It  is  customary  to  fast  on  the  anniversary 
{Jahrzeit)  of  the  death  of  jsarents,  and  if  it  happen 
on  a  day  when  the  prayers  of  ^nrnn  are  not  said,  we 
need  not  to  solemnize  it  by  fasting. 

128.  We  are  not  to  jiartlcipate  in  any  feast  or  ban- 
quet on  the  eve  previous  to  the  anniversary  (Jahrzeit). 
If  the  first  anniversary  occur  on  Friday,  and  we  did 
not,  on  account  of  the  Sabbath,  fast  until  night,  then 
we  are  exempt  from  fasting  the  whole  day  on  sub- 
sequent years,  though  it  does  not  fall  on  Friday ;  but 
if  we  fasted  the  first  year  the  whole  day,  we  are  then 
to  observe  it  afterwards. 

129.  It  is  also  customary  to  have  a  candle  or  lamp 
burning  fi-om  the  eve  of  the  anniversary  to  the  other, 
in  commemoration  of  the  honour  due  to  departed 
parents ;  and  when  persons  die  without  childreu,  this 
practice  ought  to  be  carried  out  by  the  relatives. 

130.  In  case  the  death  of  a  relative  occur  in  the 
month  of  n~s,  in  a  common  year  (nrDTrc  nrr),  the 
anniversary  is  to  be  observed  in  the  following  year 
in  the  same  month,  viz.,  ^tijsi  ^-\^,  though  it  bo  a 
n"i3ij)n  nDTD  (an  embolismic  year) ;  but  should  the  de- 
mise of  a  relative  happen  in  a  n"iai3>?a  nri:  (embolismic 
year),  the  anniversary  is  always  solemnized  in  iDa  "i~x 
(second  month  of  Adar) ;  for  the  amiiversary  is  al- 
ways to  be  observed  in  the  same  month  that  death 
took  place.  The  '0-^-\p  for  our  departed  parents  is  on- 
ly to  be  repeated  by  the  mourners  for  eleven  months 
from  the  time  when  death  took  place,  provided  not 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  68 

mother,  though  it  be  after  thii-ty  clays  of  their  de- 
mise, the  mourner  is  still  bound  to  perform  the  ny^ip, 
to  sit  one  hour  upon  the  ground,  and  to  observe  the 
Diiabii:,  which  commence  fi-om  the  day  when  the  re- 
port reached  him. 

122.  Persons  who  are  informed  of  the  death  of 
then-  parents  in  the  twelfth  month  after  then-  demise, 
need  only  sit  one  hour  upon  the  ground.  Previous 
to  then-  sitting  upon  the  grovmd  they  are  to  per- 
form the  nyilp,  observe  the  t3"^'j3bt^,  and  the  (Jahrzeit) 
anniversary  of  then-  death  they  are  to  keep,  in  com- 
mon with  tlieh  other  brothers  and  sisters  who  were 
present  at  the  death  of  theh  father  or  mother.  They 
are  like-^dse  not  to  say  ffli-ip  Kaddish  until  the 
Jahrzeit  (anniversary). 

123.  Persons  who  are  informed  of  the  death  of 
theh  relatives,  after  the  expiration  of  the  year  of 
mourning,  are  exempt  even  fi'om  sitting  one  hour 
upon  the  ground,  and  are  free  from  observing  every 
law  and  ceremony  incumbent  upon  moiu-ners. 

124.  But  if  he  hear  of  the  demise  of  his  parents, 
though  it  be  after  the  year  of  mourning  was  com- 
pleted, he  is  still  to  make  the  nj'i-ip,  and  to  sit  one 
hour  upon  the  ground ;  but  he  is  exempt  from  all 
other  mb''ns,  and  is  even  not  to  say  the  luiip,  except 
on  the  Jahrzeit  (anniversary),  which  he  is  to  solem- 
nize in  common  with  his  other  brothers  and  sisters. 

125.  The  Jahrzeit  (anniversary')  is  always  to  be 
solemnized  on  the  day  when  the  death  took  place. 

126.  The  ri'inp  is  only  to  be  repeated  by  the 
mourners  during  eleven   months,   whilst    all  other 


57  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

116.  But  if  lie  (the  mourner)  lias  already  said  the 
a*i^y>a  Mahrih  (evening  prayers)  at  the  time  when  the 
report  reached  him,  though  it  had  not  yet  been  read 
in  s}Tiagogue,  he  is  at  once  to  sit  uj)on  the  gi'ound ; 
but  the  seven  days  commence  only  from  the  subse- 
quent day,  when  he  is  to  read  his  morning  prayers 
without  the  pbicn  T'filin. 

117.  The  same  is  the  case  when  the  sad  report 
reaches  the  mourner  on  n-*u  'z-i?  or  on  mt)  UTi  nn5, 
before  he  has  recited  the  evening  prayers,  and  there 
is  yet  time  left  to  sit  a  few  minutes  upon  the  gi'ound 
before  night,  though  the  evening  prayers  were  ah-eady 
finished  in  the  s}Tiagogue,  these  few  minutes  are 
still  to  be  reckoned  for  a  ^-hole  day,  and  the  almost 
approached  hohday  clears  the  whole  n~::r. 

118.  But  if  the  report  reaches  the  relative  so  late 
in  the  da}-  that  there  was  no  time  left  for  him  to  sit 
upon  the  ground  before  night,  the  hohday  does  not 
clear  the  n:?::-. 

119.  At  the  termination  of  ma  ct^  he  must  com- 
mence the  nj'j'i' ;  but  the  ti^aba  he  commences  from 
the  day  the  report  reached  him,  TJ  nb'cn  "jiTirnn  -ncsn 

120.  But  if  he  is  informed  of  the  death  of  a  rela- 
tive after  tliii*ty  days  of  the  demise,  the  mom-ner 
need  only  sit  upon  the  gi-ound  one  hour,  but  he  is 
exempt  from  making  the  nyi-ip,  neither  do  we  send 
him  the  riH""i-.-i  miyo  (meal  of  condolence),  and  both 
the  nyn-  and  tj'^rbr:  are  terminated,  after  having  sat 
one  hour  upou  the  ground. 

121.  But  if  he  hear  of  the  death  of  a  father  or 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  56 

are  at  the  qi^iq  mi5o  Soodaih  Purim  (the  banquet 
given  on  Purim)  allowed  to  partake  of  meat  and  wine; 
it  is  a  matter  of  coui'se  that  they  must  not  drmk  it 
to  excess  and  intoxication,  but  must  be  mindful  and 
conscious  of  the  loss  they  have  sustained.  The 
moiu'ners  must  on  that  day  make  no  preparation 
whatever  for  the  interment.  In  case  the  bimal- 
gi'ound  is  a  great  distance  from  the  place  where  the 
corpse  lies,  so  that  the  mourners  are  compelled  to 
make  the  aiTangements  for  the  funeral  early  on  that 
day,  they  are  to  read  the  nb3?a  afterwards,  though 
the  time  for  the  reading  of  the  morning  service  has 
elapsed. 

114.  If  the  report  of  the  death  of  a  relative  reach 
us  within  tliirty  days  after  his  demise,  it  is  called 
a  nmnp  -rnrca  (recent  report) ;  and  a  npnnn  nyifsij  (an 
old  report)  signifies  when  we  are  informed  of  the  loss 
of  our  relatives  after  thii-ty  days  of  their  demise. 

115.  At  a  r^Zi^'^'^;)  n5i?3"j  we  are  to  observe  every 
ceremony  of  mourning,  both  as  regards  the  rending 
of  the  garment  nyi"ip  ICreah  (the  rent),  and  those  of 
the  nynn  Shivah  (seven  days  of  mourning)  and  the 
fiiiabo  Shloshim  (thu'ty  days  of  mourning) ;  the  two 
latter  commence  fi-om  the  day  the  report  reached  us. 
In  a  word,  the  day  of  a  -:ii^p  ny^y2'::  though  we  were 
informed  of  it  on  the  thirtieth  day,  is  in  every  re- 
spect equal  to  the  day  when  the  death  of  a  relative 
took  place.  In  case  a  person  was  informed  of  it 
before,  and  he  has  not  yet  repeated  the  evening 
prayers,  though  they  were  already  said  in  the  syna- 
gogue, the  mourner  is  only  to  sit  a  few  minutes  upon 
the  gi'ound,  which  is  accounted  for  a  day. 


55  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

the  nlD*ia?a  Meggillah  (Book  of  Esther).  On  the  sub- 
sequent morning  they  may  remain  at  the  place  of 
worship  both  during  the  whole  sers'ice  and  the  read- 
ing of  the  r!^"'a?a  (the  Book  of  Esther) ;  but  they  must 
not  occupy  their  usual  seats,  neither  observe  any 
pubHc  mourning  until  after  the  feast  of  Purim, 
na?:"  'wianra  ci">-noit  3::».  We  are  alike  prohibited 
fi'om  sending  to  the  mourner  the  usual  m:?:  mbo, 
but  we  may  send  him  np-r  Tzdolw  (charity),  in  case 
he  is  in  need  of  it.  The  b-s  is,  however,  permitted 
to  send  n:n  mba  to  two  persons,  and  charity  to  as 
many  as  he  can  afford. 

111.  If  a  person  die  on  t"!~nD  ii5  so  late  that  the 
relatives  are  not  able  to  inter  him  on  the  same  day, 
they  are  to  repeat  theu'  prayers  at  home,  attend 
synagogue  dui'ing  the  reading  of  the  nb'^m-  'C1-no^^  bs» 
nt:?:n  L;i?2r;n^,  and  are  also  prohibited  from  partaking 
of  meat  and  wine ;  the  same  law  they  have  to  ob- 
serve on  the  subsequent  morning  service,  after  which 
the  interment  is  to  take  place,  but  neither  the  pms 
T>in  Ziduck  Uadin  nor  the  usual  i^'^np  is  to  be  said ; 
and  in  case  the  interment  takes  place  before  the 
expu'ation  of  the  time  appointed  for  the  ser^^ce,  the 
mourners  are  to  repeat  it  "without  putting  on  the 
lii^cm  T'filin. 

112.  On  the  two  days  of  Pimm  no  public  mourn- 
ing is  to  be  observed,  which  are  still  counted  for 
two  days,  and  at  the  evening  of  Qi"ns  ^mc  the  mourn- 
ers are  to  resume  the  nsno  and  complete  it. 

113.  The  mourners  for  those  persons  who  die  on 
Purim,  that  could  not  be  inteiTcd  on  the  same  day, 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  54 

gogue  on  the  9tli  day  of  the  mrp  Kinoth  (elegies) 
and  the  n3"'s,  but  not  longer,  from  whence  they  are 
to  return  directly  to  their  house,  and  observe  every 
law  obligatory  on  mourners  during  the  whole  nsaa. 

107.  The  mourners  of  those  who  die  on  n^ian 
Chanucl'ah  are  Hkewise  before  the  interment  called 
fi''::nN,  and  are  therefore  not  allowed  to  kindle  the 
usual  -sn;n  lights,  nor  are  they  permitted  to  repeat 
the  daily  prayers.  At  the  interment  neither  the 
a"'?2n  '^'\'2n  nor  the  UJinp,  generally  repeated  at  funerals, 
are  to  be  recited;  as  soon  as  the  interment  has 
taken  place,  the  mourners  have  to  observe  the  nsnr. 
They  are,  however,  to  have  the  ns-on  Hghts  kindled 
by  others,  and  to  repeat  "^7:^  after  the  blessing. 

108.  In  case  the  time  appointed  for  the  reading  of 
the  morning  prayers  was  not  yet  over  on  their  i-eturn 
from  the  fimeral,  they  are  to  be  repeated  by  the 
mourners,  but  they  must  not  put  on  the  i"ii:"^2ri ;  and 
on  the  night  subsequent  to  the  interment  they  are  to 
kindle  the  nDi;n  Hghts.  If  a  '^'^dt^  is  convened  in  the 
house  of  mourning  during  the  n^na  on  nsiDn  or  rii"i 
xm  Bosh  Ghodesh,  the  mourners  are  to  quit  the 
room  whilst  the  b?n  is  read,  though  less  than  ten 
persons  remain  in  it. 

109.  Funerals  which  take  place  on  n;3i:n  n-i5,  both 
the  ^-i-n  'i)^Tl  and  ri-ip  are  to  be  repeated,  even  in 
the  afternoon. 

110.  Funerals  taking  place  on  the  day  before 
Pui-im  (incit  n^yri)  the  mourners  are  to  read  the 
evening  prayers  at  their  own  residence,  and  may  on- 
ly attend  the  place  of  worship  during  the  reading  of 


53  THE   BOOK   OF   LIFE. 

102.  In  case  the  thirtieth  day  of  the  h'^s'^s  happens 
on  Friday,  the  mourners  are  allowed  to  have  their 
beards  taken  off  in  the  afternoon. 

103.  Mourners  are  allowed  to  attend  the  r^nibo 
on  n:cn  las^n  n-t5  and  ^^s::r^  dti  an?  even  in  the  midst 
of  the  nsna.  A  mourner  is  only  then  allowed  to  per- 
form the  service  on  mssn  on-'i  nv::-  -wH"!  ("siz.,  to  be  a 
^n  or  nrDti  'pyn),  if  there  is  not  another  to  be  had  in 
the  same  community  capable  of  j^erforming  it,  or  if 
the  other  is  much  inferior  to  the  mourner. 

104.  No  reader  is  to  mark  the  Taleth  in  which  he 
performs  Divine  service  during  the  year  with  a  black 
ribbon,  called  nnrs. 

105.  Those  who  mourn  for  one  who  died  on  m5 
asn  n^TDri  (the  8th  of  the  month  Ab),  are  called 
fii^jis,  and  are  as  such  prohibited  from  performing 
the  usual  daUy  prayers ;  neither  are  they  permitted 
to  attend  s}Tiagogue  at  the  evening  and  morniag 
service  to  hear  the  reading  of  the  ns-5%  AicJioh  (Lam- 
entations of  Jeremiah).  After  the  reading  of  the 
morniag  service,  the  interment  may  soon  take  place, 
but  neither  x^in  pn:i:  nor  the  aip  (Kaddish),  repeated 
at  fimerals,  are  to  be  said.  If  the  interment  was 
completed  before  the  expiration  of  the  time  set 
apart  for  the  reading  of  the  morning  ser\'ice,  the 
mourners  must  repeat  it  as  usual,  after  which  they 
are  to  sit  on  the  ground. 

106.  The  nn:?2  Mincha  (afternoon  service)  the 
mom'ners  are  to  say  somewhat  later,  at  the  perform- 
ance of  which  they  are  to  put  on  their  pb-rn 
(phylacteries).  Mourners  are  allowed  to  attend  sjna- 


THE   BOOK   OF  LITE.  52 

exempt  from  observing  the  usual  laws  of  mourning, 
lie  is  still  entitled  during  the  whole  seven  days 
after  the  interment  to  every  r'lip  at  the  morning 
and  evening  ser\dce,  vnth.  the  exception,  when  there 
are  solemnizing  the  anniversary  of  the  death  of  par- 
ents, in  which  case  the  dionp  are  to  be  accordingly 
allotted. 

99.  If  the  sixth  day  of  the  nyn-:)  occurs  on  tn^  m5 
v,o,  the  approaching  hohday  taKes  oft  the  whole 
nr::'j  and  a  part  of  the  Q->r:i)'j;  the  moiu-ners  must 
not  have  then-  beards  taken  off  until  the  end  of  the 
tlnrty  days,  neither  are  they  jjermitted  to  put  on 
then-  shoes,  or  to  go  out  from  the  house,  before 
noon.  The  mourner  may  attend  synagogue  at  the 
afternoon  ser\dce,  into  which  he  is  not  to  be  brought 
by  its  ministers,  but  he  must  change  his  usual  seat. 

100.  Those  who  lament  the  loss  of  parents,  must 
neither  bathe  nor  have  their  beard  taken  off  on  :i"is 
mt:  tai"',  though  the  festival  clears  the  ci-::;r.  They 
are,  however,  allowed  to  pare  their  nails,  and  also 
to  change  theu'  linen. 

101.  If  the  last  day  of  the  nsa"::  occurs  on  rin'U  lai:?, 
which  hajjpens  to  be  before  mt:  ai-i  s-i>",  the  festival 
takes  oft'  both  the  nrrj  and  tsTiibo.  Should,  however, 
the  sixth  day  of  the  n^no  occur  on  Friday,  then  the 
approaching  holiday  clears  the  whole  n-^cir ;  but  he 
must  not  have  his  beard  taken  off  until  after  ::i3  dti, 
inasmuch  as  the  nrma  was  not  completed  before  its 
entrance.  Such  mourners,  however,  are  allowed  to 
have  their  beards  taken  off  on  n5i?:n  inn,  with  the 
exception  when  mourmng  for  parents. 


51  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

exempts  them  from  observing  the  nsir,  aud  clears 
likewise  eight  clays  from  the  fi'irbo ;  the  mourners 
have  therefore  only  to  observe,  after  the  festival, 
fifteen  days  more,  in  order  to  comjjlete  the  thii'ty 
days  of  mourning. 

94.  If  the  mourners  commenced  their  njsa  on 
the  day  before  the  New  Year  {-wr-i  rsi  2"^")  the  New 
Year  takes  off  the  seven  days,  and  the  subsequent 
-i-c2n  m"i  Yom  hakkippur  (the  Day  of  Atonement) 
clears  the  QicbiD. 

95.  The  same  is  to  be  observed  when  the  mourn- 
ers commenced  their  nrno  on  "nS5  dTi  yys ;  the  Day 
of  Atonement  clears  the  nrzr,  and  the  succeeding 
msiD  (the  festival  of  Tabernacles)  takes  off  the  Q-^rba. 

96.  And  though  the  thu'ty  days  of  mourning  are 
not  yet  completed,  the  mourners  are  still  allowed  to 
wash  and  bathe,  on  account  of  the  honom-  due  to 
the  approaching  festival. 

97.  If  the  mourners  commenced  to  observ^e  the 
T.-i\'2Xi.  Ovailoth  (moui'uing)  on  r-.^D  n-",  though  only 
a  short  time  before  the  commencing  of  the  festival, 
this  hour  is  to  be  accounted  for  seven  days;  the 
seven  days  of  the  festival  likewise  take  off  seven 
other  days,  which  make  fourteen  days;  to  this  we 
add  the  subsequent  m-"  ■':-':■",  which  also  clears 
seven  days;  and  the  last  day,  viz.,  irnn  rnar,  is 
likewise  to  be  reckoned  for  one  day,  which  alto- 
gether amount  to  twenty-two  days.  Hence  the 
mourners  have  only  to  observe,  after  the  holidays, 
eight  days  more,  to  complete  the  t^rru;. 

98.  Though  in  the  above  cases  the  momiier  is 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  50 

left  to  them  to  sit  upon  the  ground  before  night,  the 
almost  approached  festival  does,  nevertheless,  exon- 
erate them  from  keeping  the  nsnc  The  same  is 
the  law  when  the  coffin  is  nailed  up  in  the  dying- 
chamber,  Avith  a  view  not  to  re-open  it  on  the 
burial-gi'ound,  on  account  of  its  distance  from  the 
residence  of  the  mourners,  in  which  (%ase  the  mourning 
alike  commences  soon  after  the  coffin  was  removed 
from  the  house. 

91.  If  the  last  day  of  nyno  fall  on  ma  tn-^  niy  (the 
day  before  the  festival),  the  customary  thirty  days 
of  mourning  (nicbc)  are  considered  terminated  on 
that  day,  and  the  mourners  are  therefore  permitted 
to  do  on  mt3  dii  a-is  everything  prohibited  to  mourn- 
ers during  the  D'^mbc  But  in  case  the  departed 
was  interred  on  3iu)  uii  :2"iy,  on  which  occasion  the 
mourners  commenced  their  n^iar,  though  only  a 
short  time  (about  half  an  hour)  before  the  commence- 
ment of  the  festival,  the  mom^ners  are  then  exempt 
from  the  duties  of  the  n~30  but  are  bound  to  keep 
the  uiavB. 

92.  When  the  last  day  of  the  "52">3  happens 
on  ncc  3-i2?  (the  day  preceeding  the  Passover  festi- 
val), the  mourners  are  allowed  to  have  then"  beards 
taken  off  (except  when  they  moiu-n  for  parents),  and 
to  bathe  even  before  noon,  which  they  are  not  per- 
mitted to  do  on  another  mt:  di^  ni5  untU  the  after- 
noon. 

93.  In  case  the  mourners  sat  a  short  time  before 
the  commencement  of  a  festival  upon  the  ground, 
and  thus  began  the  nsao,  the  approaching  hohday 


49  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

takes  place  before  the  time  fixed  for  the  reading  of 
the  morning  service  has  passed. 

87.  If  a  fimeral  takes  place  on  :nt:  ati  nij  (the 
day  previous  to  the  festival),  so  late  in  the  day  that 
the  mourners  have  not  time  to  sit  a  short  while  on 
the  gi'oimd  before  the  commencement  of  mt:  gti, 
they  must,  after  the  holidays,  observe  six  days  to 
complete  the  nynu:  Shivah  (the  seven  days  of  moum- 
iag).  The  tD'i'jba  Shloshim  (thirty  days  of  mourn- 
ing), however,  commence  immediately  after  the 
interment.  But  if  the  departed  was  buried,  and 
there  was  yet  a  short  time  left  for  the  mourners  to 
sit  upon  the  gi'ound  before  the  commencement  of 
Sit:  ail,  the  festival  takes  off  the  whole  nya'::. 

88.  The  same  law  is  to  be  observed  in  those 
communities  where  it  is  customary  to  fasten  the 
coffin  in  the  house  where  death  takes  place,  without 
re-opening  it  on  the  burial-ground,  when  the  ap- 
proaching festival  clears  the  whole  nyn'C,  after  the 
mourners  liaA'e  sat  a  short  while  upon  the  ground, 
immediately  after  the  coffin  was  removed  from  the 
house,  though  the  interment  did  not  take  place  till 
late  at  night,  and  we  were  obHged  to  engage  non- 
IsraeUtes  for  its  completion. 

89.  But  when  the  mourners  follow  the  funeral  to 
the  bimal-ground,  the  mourning  does  not  commence 
until  after  the  interment  was  thoroughly  over. 

90.  Though  the  n-^-iS):  Malirih  (evening  service) 
was  read  in  the  piibhc  i)lace  of  worship  by  the  whole 
commimity  before  night  has  set  in  thoroughly,  ex- 
cept by  the  mourners,  who  have  only  a  few  minutes 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  48 

83.  The  relatives  of  those  persons  who  die  on 
nsi»n  inn  are  called  ti">23n»  until  after  the  interment 
has  taken  place,  and  have  to  observe  no  m':i"-s  Oval- 
loth  (mourning)  until  after  laii:  uii :  w'^'^wnn  t3"'"no»  bn:* 
ntt?:n.  And  although  they  need  not  observe  pubhc- 
ly  the  ceremonies  of  mourning,  they  are,  nevertheless, 
bound  to  observe  privately  every  duty  of  a  mourner. 
They  are  therefore  to  avoid  every  merriment,  and 
must  also  not  be  called  up  to  the  reading  of  the  law, 
but  nojsm  ^^Vi.'2^T^  (the  taking  out  of  the  scroll  from, 
and  the  restoring  the  same  to  the  ark)  they  may 
have.  And  though,  as  mourners,  they  are  prohibit- 
ed from  studying  the  law,  they  are  nevertheless  per- 
mitted to  read  a  certain  portion,  or  a  chapter,  which 
they  usually  have  appointed  as  their  daily  task. 

84.  Masters  or  tutors  who  are  tji^ini*  Ovailim 
(mourners),  on  nsn^an  bin  are  without  any  scruple  al- 
lowed to  instruct  their  pupils. 

85.  Mourners  must  make  no  rtyinp  KWeah  (rent) 
on  nyi>3n  bin,  though  they  bewail  the  loss  of  parents, 
imtil  after  mts  qi"i.  In  some  communities,  however, 
they  make  the  n5i-ip  on  n5i?2n  bin  for  the  loss  of  par- 
ents. m?an  ybn  and  ti5i3  '^r\^^^  are  to  be  repeated  after 
the  interment,  even  on  :21a  ni-i.  On  nsiJan  bin  nnn 
the  mourners  may  attend  synagogue,  but  they  are 
not  brought  into  it  by  its  muiisters,  previously  to  the 
chaunting  of  nmon  tji^b  "i"^©  "iitot^o. 

86.  Since  no  mb'^^s  is  to  be  observed  on  n^iTan  bin, 
mourners  are,  therfore,  to  read  the  daily  prayer,  at 
the  performance  of  which  they  are  to  put  on  their 
Vb'^Bti  T'filin  (phylacteries),  provided  the  interment 


47  THE  BOOK  OF  UPE. 

but  we  are  permitted  to  give  a  pledge  or  a  security, 
even  on  the  second  day  of  '2^'a  cr.  We  are  not  al- 
lowed, on  that  account,  to  let  the  corpse  remain 
iminterred,  but  in  case  of  need  we  may  even  on  the 
second  day  of  mo  si^  buy  everything  necessary  for 
the  funeral,  even  for  ready  money,  and  also  saw  the 
boards  for  the  coffin,  and  perform  everything  neces- 
sary for  the  funeral. 

81.  A  premature  bii-th,  or  a  child  bom  dead, 
-i»nn3  bs3,  must  be  buried  neither  on  the  first  nor  on 
the  second  day  of  mo  qt^.  A  child  who  dies  on 
:mtD  tiT"  soon  after  birth,  or  should  it  even  die  on  the 
thirtieth  day  after  biiih,  bt:3  pCD,  may  only  be  buried 
when  we  are  aware  that  it  was  matui*ely  bom :  viz. 
when  the  child  has  hau*  and  nails ;  but  in  case  it 
was  a  male  child  that  was  not  yet  circumcised,  we  are 
not  allowed  to  bury  it  until  after  sits  fiT^,  since  the 
circumcision  must  be  operated  on  the  dead  body  on 
the  burial-groimd  before  the  interment,  which  opera- 
tion must  not  be  performed  either  on  the  first  or 
second  day  of  mt:  dt>. 

82.  Also  if  an  infant  more  than  thirty  days  old 
die,  which  had  not  yet  been  cu'cumcised,  it  must 
alike  not  be  buried  mitil  after  mo  tiT',  on  which  day 
the  circumcision  before  the  interment  must  likewise 
be  performed.  This  operation  is  to  be  done  by 
means  of  a  sharp  piece  of  glass,  but  not  with  a  knife 
or  any  other  instrument.  The  niis  is  to  be  thrown 
into  the  grave.  No  ns'^'iD  takes  place,  neither  is  the 
usual  blessing  to  be  pronounced  before  the  opera- 
tion, and  it  may  also  be  performed  by  one  who  is 
not  a  vmo. 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.  46 

ond  day  of  ma  tn"*,  all  must  be  done  by  them  as  on 
the  first  day. 

78.  Those  Israehtes  whose  attendance  cannot  be 
dispensed  A\dth  at  the  interment,  are  allowed  to  fol- 
low the  funeral  by  ship,  even  beyond  the  Dinn, 
though  non-Israehtes  are  the  undertakers ;  they  are 
also  permitted  to  fill  up  the  gi-ave  after  the  cofl&n 
was  deposited  into  it,  which  is,  however,  in  no  way 
permitted  to  be  performed  by  Israehtes  on  the  first 
day  of  a  festival.  Thus  we  see  that  on  the  first  day 
of  festivals  everything  necessary  for  the  interment 
must  be  performed  by  non-Israehtes,  and  when  such 
are  not  to  be  met  wdth  to  undertake  it,  the  corpse 
must  not  be  buried  on  that  day,  whilst  on  the  second 
day  of  nt2  st^  Yom  Tove  (the  festival  days),  when 
non-Israelites  refuse  to  undertake  the  funeral  pre- 
parations, Israehtes  are  allowed  to  perform  every- 
thing, as  well  as  on  a  working  day. 

79.  Shi-ouds  becoming  soiled  after  then'  having 
been  put  on  the  deceased  on  the  first  day  of  a  festi- 
val, are  only  to  be  well  dried  with  a  towel,  but  on 
the  second  day  of  mts  tni  the  stain  may  be  washed 
out  with  cold  water,  but  not  with  warm ;  and  though 
the  shrouds  become  wet,  the  corpse  need  still  not 
be  disrobed  of  them,  in  order  to  have  them  well 
cleaned.  It  is  therefore  very  essential  to  put  a  nap- 
kin upon  the  mouth  of  the  deceased,  to  prevent  the 
shrouds  from  being  soUed  in  case  of  exudation. 

80.  We  must  not  inquire  after  the  price  of  those 
tilings  pm'chased  on  :aio  tJT>  for  the  interment  of  the 
dead.     The  amount  must  be  paid  after  the  hoUdays; 


4:5  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

the  necessary  requisites  for  the  funeral,  IsraeUtes 
may  perform  it;  they  may  therefore  make  the  coffin, 
cut  and  sew  the  shrouds ;  may  also  ride  or  go  on 
ship,  even  beyond  the  tnnn,  and  make  the  grave  as 
on  a  working  day.  But  all  this  must  be  performed 
in  private  as  much  as  possible,  carefully  avoiding 
to  excite  public  attention. 

74.  In  this  case  things  ready-made  are  to  be 
preferred,  though  they  be  inferior  to  those  that  were 
to  be  made  new ;  and  all  that  can  be  done  by  ONE 
person,  must  not  be  performed  by  two  or  more. 

75.  In  case  the  corpse  is  to  be  conveyed  in  a 
hearse  or  ship  beyond  the  t3^^n,  it  must  be  fol- 
lowed by  no  more  persons  than  those  necessary  for 
the  interment ;  and  even  parents  are,  in  this  case, 
not  to  follow  the  funeral  of  children,  and  vice  versa. 

76.  If  the  death  of  a  person  who  requested  in  his 
last  will  to  be  buried  in  the  sepulchre  of  his  fathers, 
happen  to  be  on  mts  tDTi,  though  there  be  a  burial- 
ground  in  the  place  where  he  died,  he  must,  never- 
theless, be  conveyed  after  nro  qti  to  the  place  where 
he  requested  to  be  buried ;  but  if  the  corpse  cannot 
remain  longer  uninterred,  it  must  be  biu-ied  at  the 
same  place  where  death  took  place,  but  when  the 
deceased  can  be  kept  until  after  rants  tani,  he  must  be 
conveyed  to  the  place  where  he  requested  to  be  bu- 
ried ;  for  it  is  incumbent  upon  every  one  to  comply 
with  the  desu'e  of  the  deceased,  as  much  as  it  Ues  in 
our  power,  provided  it  is  not  against  religion. 

77.  Wlien  non-Israelites  undertake  to  prepare 
the  necessary  requisites  for  the  funeral,  on  the  sec 


THE    BOOK    OF   LIFE.  44 

sons  who  follow  the  fimeral  shall  not  neglect  the 
morning  service. 

70.  It  is  laudable  and  preferable  in  every  respect 
to  make  the  niip  after  the  morning  service  is  over, 
in  order  that  none  might  be  prevented  from  attend- 
ing the  funeral  procession,  nor  run  the  risk  of  neg- 
lecting the  morning  service. 

71.  The  mourners  have  to  observe  no  mb*ia!* 
(mourning)  whatever,  they  may  go,  as  every  non- 
moui'ner,  from  the  burial  grormd  to  the  sjoiagogue, 
attend  worship,  where  they  need  not  change  their 
seats,  neither  are  they  to  mark  theii-  ri-^b'.:  Tal- 
lith  with  a  black  ribbon,  n£:?a-  n-a-::nn  c-nois  bns*. 
Their  moiu-ning  commences  with  the  termination  of 
the  holidays,  when  they  are  to  keep  the  seven  days. 

72.  If  the  festival  termiaate  on  the  eve  of  Sab- 
bath, the  mourners  are  not  brought  to  the  synagogue 
by  the  ministers  before  the  chaunting  of  i^'i:  "iiatn 
nizjn  tT^b,  since  no  mourning  has  yet  been  blading 
upon  them.  At  the  exit  of  Sabbath  they  must  make 
the  ilJJinp  ICreah  (rent)  in  tlieii*  garments,  and  also 
sit  upon  the  gi'ound,  which  is  accoiuited  for  a  whole 
day ;  and  on  the  ensuing  Thursday,  after  the  mourn- 
ers have  sat  a  short  wliile  upon  the  ground,  the 
rurna  is  completely  ended. 

73.  The  QiTcbuj  commence  from  the  day  of  inter- 
ment. The  same  laws  which  are  to  be  observed  at 
funerals  on  the  first  day  of  mt:  tJT'  Yom  Tove  (the 
festival  days)  are  aUke  to  be  regarded  on  the  second 
day,  with  the  distinction  that  if  on  the  second  day 
we  cannot  meet  with  a  non-Israehte  to  undertake 


43  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

of  the  holiday  might  ensue,  save  in  such  cases  where 
the  corpse  might  through  this  delay  remain  too  long 
imintened. 

67.  The  n-ints  taking  place  on  nnt:  ci"'  is  to  be  per- 
formed in  the  following  manner :  the  corpse  is  to  be 
placed  on  the  mna  board,  a  white  sheet  is  to  be 
covered  over  it,  the  shirt  of  the  deceased  is  to  be 
taken  off  in  such  a  way  that  the  whole  corpse  should 
always  remain  covered  with  the  sheet,  over  which 
sufficient  water  is  to  be  poured  to  wet  the  ivhole 
corpse,  and  whilst  the  water  is  thus  poured  a  napkin 
must  be  held  over  the  mouth  of  the  deceased,  to 
prevent  the  water  fi'om  running  into  it.  We  are, 
also,  to  take  more  water  than  usual,  and  pour  it 
from  the  head  to  the  heel,  since  the  corpse  must  not 
be  washed  by  the  sheet  on  riito  idti,  as  on  a  common 
day.  The  nails,  both  of  the  hands  and  feet,  are  to 
be  well  cleaned,  but  care  must  be  taken  not  to 
scratch  off  from  the  corpse  anything  that  cleaves 
fast  to  it.  Having  thus  proceeded,  water  is  again 
to  be  poured  over  the  corpse ;  but  we  must  by  no 
means  wash  or  rub  it  with  the  sheet. 

68.  Respecting  the  shrouding  of  the  corpf;e,  we 
are  to  proceed  as  at  other  m^ino ;  but  nothing  must 
be  scratched  off  fi"om  the  body.  Care  must  likewise 
be  taken  to  dry  the  corpse  well. 

69.  To  perform  the  n^nts  on  sio  tiT^  by  means  of 
straw  or  hay,  as  suggested  by  many,  is,  for  several 
well  gi'ounded  reasons,  not  to  be  approved  of.  In 
case  a  funeral  takes  place  on  ::it3  t3T>,  very  early  in 
the  morning,  care  ought  to  be  taken  that  thosei  per- 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  42 

64  All  manner  of  work  which  we  are  prohibited 
to  do  on  the  Sabbath,  must  likewise  not  be  per- 
formed for  the  funeral  on  the  first  day  of  mt:  nTi ; 
we  may,  however,  warm  the  water  for  the  mntj 
Taharah  (purification) ;  carry  the  departed  to  the 
burial-ground,  provided  the  latter  is  oinm  "^inn,  but 
not  by  hearse,  caniage,  or  ship.  The  latter,  how- 
ever, may  be  done  without  scruple  by  those  Avho  are 
not  Israelites,  save  no  "^ii-i  sits  in  the  carnage  or 
goes  on  board  the  sliip  to  attend  the  funeral ;  the 
latter,  however,  may  follow  it  on  foot,  when  it  is 
Dinnn  "|ir.3.  The  making  of  the  coffin,  the  digging  of 
the  grave,  the  depositing  of  the  coffin  into  it,  and 
the  filling  up  thereof,  must  be  done  by  a  non-Israel- 
ite ;  but  in  case  there  is  none  to  untertake  it,  the 
corpse  must  remain  uninterred  until  the  following 
day,  when  the  depositing  of  the  coffin  into  the  grave 
may  be  done  by  Israelites,  who  are  also  allowed  to 
carry  back  every  tool  necessary  for  the  interment  to 
the  place  where  they  are  generally  kept. 

65.  No  naU  or  screw  is  to  be  driven  into  the  cof- 
fin on  mt:  tD-i'^  Yarn  Tove  (the  festival  days),  but  we 
may  put  them  into  the  hole  made  for  that  pur- 
pose. No  napkin  must  be  torn,  or  any  other  thing 
broken,  though  it  be  necessary  for  the  funeral.  In 
a  like  manner  must  the  shirt  not  be  torn  off  from  the 
deceased  before  the  -"ins,  as  it  is  the  custom  on  a 
working  day,  neither  are  the  mourners  to  make  nynp. 

66.  In  some  communities  no  funeral  takes  place 
on  the  first  day  of  ii:^  tni,  because  we  might  then 
not  be  enabled  to  treat  the  deceased  according  to 
the  laws,  rites,  and  customs  ;  or  that  a  profanation 


41  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

preparations  are  made  for  the  burying,  and  the 
mourners  are  therefore  allowed,  dui'iag  the  whole 
mt:  til"!  to  eat  meat  and  diink  "wine,  and  perform  the 
daily  service,  and  at  the  exit  of  mt:  ti"^,  they  have  to 
observe  the  same  laws  as  at  the  exit  of  the  Sabbath. 
In  this  case  nothing  must  be  done  for  the  inter- 
ment until  after  mt:  ttT^,  not  even  by  a  non-Israehte. 

62.  The  same  law  is  to  be  observed  when  per- 
sons die  on  the  eve  of  noD.  The  mourners  may  par- 
take of  meat  and  wine,  but  the  n-o  (ser\dce  on  the 
eve  of  Passover)  must  be  performed  by  another,  to 
which  they  are  to  listen  attentively,  but  not  to  re- 
peat, and  they  must  Ukemse  partake  of  the  ns^ 
Mazzah  and  "iin?:  Moror,  and  afterwards  repeat 
the  iibn  Hallel.  They  must  also  not  make  nnon 
(couch),  and  put  on  0:3^0  (surplice),  where  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  do  it :  mourners  for  parents  are  to  abstain 
from  the  last  two  ceremonies  dm'ing  the  whole  year. 

63.  When  the  departed  are  to  be  brought  to  their 
place  of  repose  on  the  morrow  of  the  first  day  of 
mt)  t3Ti  Yom  2'ove  (the  festival  days),  the  d-::is  may 
attend  the  place  of  worship  on  the  eve  previous,  and 
may  also  occupy  their  usual  seats,  perform  the  daOy 
service,  and  are  permitted  to  partake  of  meat  and 
to  repeat  grace  after  meals.  The  corpse  may  be 
removed  on  mts  mi  from  the  bed  where  death  took 
place,  in  order  to  have  it  deposited  on  the  ground, 
without  laymg  a  loaf  on  it,  as  is  done  on  Sabbath. 
We  are  in  like  manner  allowed  to  close  the  eyes  and 
tie  up  the  jaws  of  the  deceased,  and  place  abiu'ning 
candle  at  the  head,  and  cover  it  with  a  black  cloth. 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.  40 

from  the  bed  where  he  died,  in  order  to  be  deposited 
on  the  ground  (generally  called  Ahliehen),  a  small 
loaf  must  be  placed  on  the  corj)se,  which  must  re- 
main on  it  dui'ing  its  removal ;  neither  are  we  per- 
mitted to  have  a  burning  candle  placed  at  its  head 
until  the  termination  of  Sabbath. 

60.  In  the  above-mentioned  case  the  "DIk  may 
partake  of  meat  and  wine,  perform  the  daily  service, 
and  even  attend  S}Tiagogue.  In  some  communities 
no  V"'^  attends  the  place  of  worship,  even  on  Sabbath. 
If  he  perform  the  Sabbath  prayer  at  his  own  house, 
he  must  neither  repeat  mns  yxn  nor  i-ip-ibn?:  n?3:. 

61.  At  the  exit  of  Sabbath,  the  ^r^  is  to  read  the 
evening  service,  ainyra  (3Iahrib),  somewhat  earlier 
than  any  other  indi\'idual :  for  as  soon  as  night  has 
set  in  he  must  read  no  prayer  whatever,  nor  even 
pronounce  the  rib'^zn  n^na.  The  latter,  however, 
must  be  repeated  by  the  mourner  after  the  inter- 
ment, provided  it  does  not  exceed  Tuesday ;  he  then 
repeats  the  blessing  over  a  glass  of  wine,  but  neither 
the  customary  airaD3  (spices)  nor  the  light  are  to  be 
used  at  its  performance.  The  moiu-ners  for  those 
persons  who  died  on  mo  ci^  rir,  the  day  before  the 
festival,  when  there  was  no  time  to  inter  the  corpse 
before  n-o  dti  Yom  Tove  (the  festival  days),  are  per- 
mitted to  attend  synagogue,  to  perform  the  service 
of  the  day,  and  may  drink  wane,  eat  moat,  and  re- 
peat the  ^it?^-  -D-12  Birchatk  hamoson  (grace  after 
meal),  nt3-'?an  sjiarns  ni^ioit  ins.  Moreover,  though 
the  departed  is  only  to  be  interred  after  mts  ai-^,  the 
mr:^  (mourning)  incumbent  before  the  interment 
does  still  not  commence  till  the  day  on  which  the 


39  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

be  no  other  besides  him,  or  if  he  were  called  up  by 
mistake,  he  may  then  be  nmnb  nl)i5  (go  up  to  the 
reading  of  the  law) ;  he  is,  however,  not  allowed  to 
repeat  the  nu:"i5  (portion)  read  to  him,  but  merely 
to  hsten  to  it. 

56.  He,  the  >-3,  must  likewise  quit  the  synagogue 
during  the  whole  tai'ubc,  when  the  ci^na  go  to  pin 
(to  recite  the  sacredotal  blessings),  and  when 
mourning  for  parents  he  is  to  observe  it  during  the 
whole  year ;  also  a  bm?2  Moliel,  godfather,  or  n-i-ii  bsn 
the  father  of  the  circumcised  child,  must  not  be 
called  up  during  the  n~nu;  Shivah  (seven  days  of 
mourning).  But  norsm  nsrin  the  taking  out  and 
replacing  of  the  scroll,  or  niiip3T  nnznn,  the  lifting  up 
and  rolUng  thereof,   the  b-s<  may  perform. 

57.  When  the  last  day  of  the  nr--j  falls  on  the 
Sabbath,  the  mourner  need  not  to  sit  on  the  ground 
at  t\'2.-'a  "S4ST3  Mozai  Shabhath  (the  exit  thereof) ;  for 
the  r;>-a  ends  with  the  termination  of  the  morning 
service.  If  it  happen  to  fall  on  any  day  in  the  week, 
the  mourner  has  only  to  sit  one  hour  on  the  groimd, 
and  then  the  nyna  is  terminated. 

58.  If  any  one  die  on  Sabbath,  we  are  not  per- 
mitted to  close  the  eyes  neither  to  tie  up  his  jaws, 
nor  to  straighten  his  hands  and  feet  on  that  day ; 
but  we  are  allowed  to  prevent  the  mouth  from  being 
more  opened  than  it  was  at  the  time  when  death 
took  place.  Care,  however,  must  be  taken  not  to 
draw  the  jaws  together,  or  to  close  the  mouth  more 
than  it  was  nri->?a  nyoa  (at  the  time  he  died). 

59.  If  the  deceased  is  to  be  removed  on  Sabbath 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.  38 

her  husband  be  drowned,  and  the  corpse  not  identi- 
fied, she  is  called  a  n^na?,  and  is  to  observe  no  m'b"<3K 
Ovailoth  (mourning)  whatever,  nor  are  the  children 
allowed  to  say  c^ip  (Kaddish). 

51.  At  the  demise  of  distant  relatives,  for  whom 
no  iiyz-a  Shivah  (seven  days  of  mourning)  is  to  be 
observed,  we  are  at  least  bound  to  keep  some  mb"i2», 
in  abstaining  from  feasts  during  the  -whole  n^n^D, 
even  at  the  n:i?3  r."'in  B'rith  milali  (circumcision)  of 
grand-children.  We  are  in  hke  manner  to  wear  on 
the  first  Sabbath  some  of  our  weekly  garments. 

52.  At  the  death  of  fi-^ir.in?:  (people  related  by 
marriage)  no  Tiib""::!*  whatever  takes  place.  Alike,  if 
we  are  informed  of  the  death  of  one  of  our  distant 
relatives,  thu'ty  days  after  theu'  demise,  no  mb'^ss 
is  to  be  observed,  save  the  iisual  custom  to  wear  on 
the  first  Sabbath  some  of  our  daily  garments. 

53.  It  is  customary  for  the  mourner,  on  the  eve 
of  the  Sabbath  within  the  seven  days,  to  go  to  the 
synagogue,  at  the  entrance  of  which  he  remains 
duiing  the  nn3>2  3Iincha  sendee,  and  before  the  reader 
commences  the  Psalm  of  D-rn  m->b  n^fl  -nr2T?3,  the  td-ovs 
caUs  Out  ti-ibni*  tinD?a  (condolence  to  the  mourners), 
and  then  they  are  brought  into  the  Synagogue  by 
the  Rabbi  or  by  the  minister. 

54.  On  the  Sabbath  of  the  n52a  no  b-H  Ouvel 
(mourner)  is  to  be  called  up  to  the  reading  of  the 
law.  The  same  is  to  be  observed  with  an  -"ir*^  who 
attends  synagogue  on  Sabbath  or  on  the  festivals, 
he  must  not  be  called  up. 

55.  In  case  the  b^n  is  a  ina   Cohen,  and  there 


37  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

be  interred.  The  new  couple  have  to  observe,  as 
all  other  newly  married  who  are  not  mourners,  the 
nnn3?3n  172"'  nyna  (the  seven  days  of  joy),  at  the  expi- 
ration of  which  they  must  keep  the  nyao  Shivah 
(seven  days  of  mom'ning).  The  thirty  days  of 
mourning  commence  from  the  first  day  of  the  htse, 
inasmuch  as  they  have  previously  observed  no 
mb"'3»  whatever. 

45.  But  in  case  the  bridegi'oom  wishes  to  observe 
the  seven  days  of  mourning,  previous  to  his  wedding, 
he  is  allowed  to  do  it,  and  the  nuptials  may  take 
place  as  soon  as  the  nssn  is  over.  But  when  one  of 
the  parents  dies  after  the  mamage  ceremony  has 
taken  place,  the  moiu'niiig  bride  or  bridegroom  must 
observe  the  nyar  soon  after  the  interment. 

46.  In  regard  to  the  laws  incumbent  upon 
mourners,  no  distinction  is  to  be  made  between 
male  or  female. 

47.  When  the  going  without  shoes  is  injurious  to 
the  health  of  a  female,  she  need  not  take  them  oft'. 

48.  Females  are  likewise  to  wear  mourning-dress- 
es dimng  the  whole  year. 

49.  A  woman  who  has  lost  her  husband  must  re- 
main in  her  widowhood  for  three  months  and  a  few 
days ;  and  in  case  she  had  a  child  by  her  deceased 
husband,  which  Avas  not  yet  weaned,  she  is  not  al- 
lowed to  re-marry  until  the  child  is  two  years  old. 
During  her  widowhood  she  is  to  wear  mourning  the 
whole  year,  as  at  the  loss  of  parents. 

50.  A  woman  whose  husband  has  gone  away, 
without  her  knowing  what  has  become  of  him,  or  if 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.  36 

40.  Baclielors  and  spinsters  in  mourning  may  be 
betrothed  ■s\dthin  tlie  Q^^cV-,  and  marry  after  the 
G'^c ba,  when  they  are  permitted  to  dance  and  par- 
ticipate in  every  entertainment  as  any  other  bride  or 
bridegi-oom  who  are  not  in  mourning ;  but  as  soon 
as  the  wedding  week  is  over,  they  are  again  to 
put  on  their  moiuiiing  dresses,  and  observe  every 
law  incumbent  iipon  mourners. 

41.  Parents  in  mourning,  celebrating  the  mar- 
riage of  theii-  daughters,  are  allowed  to  do  every- 
thing at  the  wedding,  as  if  they  were  not  in  mourn- 
ing, but  they  are  to  take  care  not  to  exceed  the 
hmits  of  rational  enjoyment;  and  soon  after  the 
wedding  day  they  are  again  to  put  on  their  mourn- 
ing apparel. 

42.  One  who  has  lost  his  wife  must  not  marry 
again  imtil  the  expu'ation  of  the  annual  uib^i  ujbm 
Sholosh  rgolim :  viz.,  Passover,  Pentecost  and  Tab- 
ernacle, nrrn  tl"»"i  Rosh  Hashono,  (the  New  Year), 
and  mc^n  tni  Yom  hakkippur,  (Day  of  Atonement), 
are  not  termed  b3"i  (festival),  and  are  therefore  not 
to  be  included  therein. 

43.  It  is  incumbent  upon  all  who  mourn  for  the 
loss  of  their  -waves,  to  observ^e  all  the  ceremonies 
and  laws  of  an  ^r»  Ouvel  (mourner)  diu-ing  the  n^^nbr. 

44.  If  the  bride  or  bridegroom  unfortunately 
lose  one  of  their  parents  on  the  wedding  day,  when 
everything  necessary  for  such  an  occasion  was  pre- 
pared, so  that  by  a  delay  of  the  Avedding  they  might 
incur  a  great  loss,  they  are  permitted  to  go  under 
the  nDin  'Huppah  (to  be  married),  and  also  o^acn 
nt3?an,  after  which  the  corpse  of  the  deceased  is  to 


09  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

a  bm?3  (Mohel)  and  "Gevatter"  (godfatlier),  and  may 
also  partake  of  the  meal  generally  given  on  such 
occasions.  He  may  wash,  bathe,  and  change  his 
dress,  but  those  who  moum  for  the  death  of  parents 
are  only  allowed  to  do  it  after  the  a-'abr;. 

36.  Should  the  mourner  himself  be  the  ni"i3  ija 
Bal  Urith  (the  father  of  the  child  to  be  circumcised), 
though  he  bewails  the  loss  of  his  parents,  he  is  still 
permitted  to  wash,  bathe,  and  change  his  dross,  even 
within  the  D'oba,  but  he  must  not  take  off  his  beard. 

37.  The  mourner  may  also  accept  the  oflfice  of 
an  "  Unterjuhrcr'"  (the  giver  away  of  a  bride  or  bride- 
groom), but  he  must  not  attend  the  dinner,  or  enjoy 
the  music  on  such  occasions ;  and  when  mourning 
for  a  parent,  he  may  only  accept  it  after  the  t3-<sbD, 
when  he  is  allowed  to  take  off  his  beard,  and  also 
put  on  his  Sabbath  dress,  which  he  may  wear  until 
the  marriage  ceremony  is  conch^dcd.  He  may  also 
act  as  n^'na  byn  (reader  of  the  blessings  pronounced 
under  the  iiDin  'Huppah),  but  he  must  by  no  means 
attend  the  banquet  or  music  on  such  occasions  dur- 
ing the  whole  twelve  months. 

38.  Persons  in  mourning,  who  give  away  a  fe- 
male orphan,  may,  vvhen  the  marriage  happens  to 
take  place  within  the  n^u;b"r  SJiloshuii  (thirty  days  of 
mourning),  attend  th(^  wedding  liouse,  in  case  their 
presence  is  required,  but  they  must  not  pjirtake  of 
the  banquet,  and  when  tliey  mourn  for  parents  they 
arc  only  allowed  to  do  it  after  the  s-^ab"::. 

39.  Neither  males  or  females  are  to  be  betrothed 
during  the  nsiiD. 


THE   BOOK   OF   LIFE.  34 

life ;  the  reason  of  which  is  aptly  derived  from  the 
verse,  "The  soul  of  man  is  the  lamp  of  the  Eternal." 
Prov.  XX.  27. 

31.  Mourners  who  celebrate  a  nb'^72  rr^ia  BWith 
milah  (circumcision),  within  the  nrao,  are  permitted 
to  go  to  the  synagogue,  but  they  are  not  allowed  to 
take  off  the  beard  or  to  have  theii-  haii-  cut,  nor  to 
change  their  dress. 

32.  They  must  neither  provide  any  feast  what- 
ever, but  are  merely  to  invite  ten  persons  v^'a  (Min- 
yan),  to  partake  of  something,  in  order  to  be 
enabled  to  repeat  the  '\it?:n  na^a  Birchath  hamoson 
(grace  after  meals) ;  after  which  the  mourners  are 
again  to  observe  every  ceremony  and  law  incumbent 
upon  them. 

33.  The  mourner  is  also  permitted  to  perform 
the  duties  of  'brr\'ni  (Mohel),  when  there  is  no  other 
besides  him,  even  on  the  first  day  of  the  -jar ;  aq  1 
as  soon  as  the  operation  is  over  he  must  go  directly 
from  the  synagogue  to  his  house,  and  is  not  to  par- 
take of  the  nnso  Soodah  (meal  generally  provided 
on  such  occasions). 

34.  In  like  manner  may  the  moimier,  after  the 
expiration  of  three  days  of  the  nrar  be  a  "  Gevatter" 
(godfather) ;  he  must  say  the  daily  prayer  at  home, 
attend  synagogue  whilst  the  circumcision  takes 
place,  and  then  return  to  his  house  to  sit  upon  the 
ground  as  an  ^n»,  and  is  Hkewise  not  to  partake  of 
the  rmyo  Soodah  (banquet.) 

35.  Every  mourner  may  during  the  fiiDbo  Sh'lo- 
shim  (thirty  days  of  mourning)  accept   the  office  of 


33  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

to  provide  their  daily  necessaries,  but  by  no  means 
when  tending  to  their  amusement. 

25.  Physicians  and  surgeons  may,  even  within 
the  nsn'U,  attend  on  their  patients  who  are  in  need  of 
their  medicial  assistance,  though  there  are  in  the 
same  place  other  professional  men  to  do  it. 

26.  Dui'ing  the  whole  thirty  days  no  mourner  is 
permitted  either  to  bathe  or  to  anoint  himself,  or  to 
take  oflf  the  beard,  or  to  pare  the  nails,  both  from 
the  hands  and  feet.  Persons  in  mourning  for  par- 
ents ouglit  to  wear  the  beard  during  the  whole  twelve 
months ;  but  when  their  business  compels  them  to 
mix  among  j)eople,  may  only  then  take  off  the  beard 
when  they  call  attention  to  their  ill-looking  and  al- 
tered aj)pearance. 

27.  If  the  thirtieth  day  of  tj'^TsbTU  ShlosMm  (thirty 
days  of  mourning)  fall  on  Friday,  the  mourner  needs 
no  more,  on  account  of  the  honour  due  to  Sabbath, 
observe  the  rites,  laws,  and  ceremonies  connected 
with  the  tj'i'Ljbn. 

28.  Every  mourner  should,  at  the  demise  of  re- 
latives, change  his  usual  seat  at  the  jjublic  place 
of  worship  during  the  whole  nirV-^,  and  at  the  de- 
mise of  parents  he  is  to  change  it  dui'ing  the  whole 
year. 

29.  The  sitting  upon  the  ground  for  our  departed 
relatives  ought  to  be  as  far  as  possible  in  the  room 
where  death  took  place. 

30.  It  is  customary  to  have  during  the  whole 
nyno  SMvah  (seven  days  of  mourning)  a  lighted  lamp 
in  the  place  where  the  deceased  ended  his  earthly 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.  32 

court  of  justice,  or  before  any  other  authority,  may 
go  without  any  hesitation  or  scruple. 

19.  The  business  of  such  mourners  who  are  in 
partnership  with  others,  may  be  carried  on  privately 
by  the  latter  after  the  first  three  days,  though  the 
former  profits  by  it. 

20.  Whoever  deals  in  an  article  for  which  there 
is  a  momentary  demand,  and  which,  if  not  sold  im- 
mediately, might  cause  a  loss,  or  if  the  mourner  can 
purchase  an  article  which  must  be  bought  at  once 
to  prevent  loss  or  its  being  damaged,  is  permitted 
to  have  such  articles  sold  or  bought  for  him  by 
others,  but  not  in  his  own  house. 

21.  No  b-s  OiLvel  (mourner)  is  allowed  to  wait 
during  the  thirty  days  of  mourning  on  tables  where 
there  is  music.  Those  who  mourn  for  the  death  of 
their  parents  are  prohibited  from  doing  the  above 
during  the  whole  twelve  months  of  mourning. 

22.  But  when  there  is  no  music  at  the  table  the 
mourner  may  act  as  waiter,  after  the  ui'oi'o  SJiloshim 
(thb'ty  days  of  mourning),  when  mourning  for  parents; 
and  even  vvdtliin  the  ti-iinba  when  mourning  the  loss 
of  other  relatives. 

23.  In  a  like  manner  the  mourners  for  parents 
are  not  to  visit  parties  and  feasts  during  the  whole 
year ;  and  when  mourning  for  other  relatives,  they 
are  only  to  abstain  from  it  during  the  tDi"jbo. 

24.  Poor  musicians  who  are  in  mourning  may 
play  at  banquets  and  feasts,  even  during  the  thirty 
days,  but  if  mourning  for  their  parents  they  are  only 
allowed  to  do  it  after  the  D'^nba.  It  is  a  matter  of 
course  that  they  are  only  permitted  to  do  it  in  order 


31  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

13.  Cooking  and  baking  for  their  own  use  may 
be  done  by  the  mourners  themselves ;  also  the  rinsing 
and  washing  of  utensils,  and  the  cleaning  of  the 
house,  the  making  of  the  beds,  and  the  washing  of 
linen  for  little  children. 

14.  Poor  persons,  who  are  compelled  to  work 
for  their  daily  maintenance,  may  work  privately  af- 
ter the  expiration  of  three  days  of  the  nsno  Skivak 
(seven  days  of  mourning),  in  order  to  procure  their 
daily  maintenance. 

15.  Servants  in  mourning  are  allowed  to  do  any 
kind  of  work ;  but  it  is  very  just  and  equitable  that 
their  employers  should  allow  them  an  hour  or  half 
an  hour  daily,  in  which  they  might  sit  upon  the 
ground,  and  observe  the  customary  ceremonies. 
Such  services  which  can  be  done  without  intemipting 
the  earnestness  of  mourning,  servants  in  mourning 
are  bound  to  do. 

16.  Teachers  may  instruct  their  pupils  after 
three  days  of  the  rt3?2"«a.  ChUdi-en  in  momiiing  may 
go  to  be  instructed. 

17.  We  are  not  allowed  to  put  on  the  usual  Sab- 
bath dress  on  the  Sabbath  within  the  nyru:.  It  is  very 
commendable  for  the  mourner,  dui'ing  the  whole 
twelve  months,  to  be  attu*ed  in  black,  for  the  reason 
stated  above :  viz.,  that  black  is  mb"»:s<  p'^o  (a  badge 
of  mourning).  It  is,  therefore,  usual  to  put  a  black 
nnt53>  on  the  n^^iit: ;  and  on  Sabbath,  when  no  mourn- 
ing is  to  be  observed,  the  n-^^D  is  to  be  turned  on 
the  other  side,  or  folded. 

18.  Mourners  summoned    to    appear    before   a 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  30 

of  mourning).  They  also  suffer  none  to  sit  on  the 
chair  on  which  the  departed  used  to  sit.  A  most 
praiseworthy  custom  indeed,  calculated  to  keep  in 
reverence  the  memory  of  oiu-  departed  fiiends  or 
relatives. 

8.  For  the  following  seven  relatives  we  are 
bound  to  keep  the  n^na  Shivah  (seven  days  of  mourn- 
ing), and  observe  all  the  ceremonies  stated  above : 
at  the  death  of  a  father  or  mother,  son  or  daughter, 
brother  or  sister,  either  by  father  or  mother  (older  than 
thirty  days),  and  at  the  death  of  a  husband  or  wife. 

9.  No  mb"^!?*  Ovailotli  (moirrning)  is  incumbent 
upon  males  less  than  thirteen  years  old,  and  upon 
females  less  than  twelve  years  old.  They  need  not, 
therefore,  sit  upon  the  ground  at  the  departure  of  one 
of  the  above  enumerated  seven  relatives,  though 
they  may  enter  into  this  age  during  the  nsna  Shivah 
(seven  days  of  mourning). 

10.  At  the  death  of  parents,  or  even  of  young 
children,  as  well  as  of  adults,  we  dress  in  black,  for 
black  is  mb'^n:*  ya'^o  (a  badge  of  mom*ning). 

11.  Persons  overtaken  within  a  nyna  (Shivah) 
with  the  death  of  another  of  the  above  seven  rela- 
tives, need  not  keep  separate  seven  days,  but  com- 
mence the  second  ny:^©  (Shivah)  from  the  interment 
of  the  second  relative,  and  continue  to  keep  the  sev- 
en days. 

12.  No  business  must  be  transacted  by  the  D^baH 
Ovailim  (mourners)  during  the  seven  days  of  mourn- 
ing. They  are,  however,  permitted  to  write  letters, 
provided  their  contents  are  of  a  strictly  private 
nature,  and  cannot  well  be  confided  to  others. 


29  THE   BOOK   OP  LIFE. 

seats  (such  as  mats  or  hassocks),  but  they  must  not 
sit  uj:)©!!  rich  cushions  or  pillows. 

2.  After  the  return  from  the  burial  place,  the 
mourners  are  to  read  the  customary  daily  prayers, 
provided  the  time  for  the  reading  of  the  Shemah 
is  not  yet  expired,  but  they  must  not  put  on  the 
pb"i5n  T'filin  (phylacteries). 

3.  It  is  customary  that  the  neighbours  of  the 
mourners  send  them,  after  the  interment  of  their 
departed  relatives,  some  food,  which  consits  of  hard- 
boiled  eggs  and  bread,  termed  nsnnn  miso  (meals  of 
condolence), 

4.  At  this  first  meal  neither  wine  or  meat  must 
be  used,  both  may,  however,  be  taken  by  the  mourn- 
er after  the  above-mentioned  meal. 

5.  During  the  nsno  Shivah  (the  seven  days  of 
mourning),  the  moui'ner  must  not  wear  shoes,  nor 
transact  any  business,  and  must  also  avoid  every 
sexual  intercoui'se.  Moiuiiers  occupied  in  the 
study  of  other  religious  books,  are  only  to  choose 
such  passages  apphcable  to  mourning,  or  such  pas- 
sages as  bear  upon  it. 

6.  In  case  the  mourner  needs  to  leave  the  room, 
he  may  put  on  the  shoes,  which  he  is  again  to  take 
off  immediately  after  his  re-entering  the  room.  Per- 
sons to  whom  the  taking  off  of  the  shoes  might  prove 
injurious,  are  allowed  to  j^ut  on  worn  out  shoes  or 
slippers. 

7.  It  is  customary  not  to  allow  persons  to  sleep 
on  the  bed  or  on  the  couch  on  which  tho  deceased 
expired,  during  the  whole  nj^a  Shivah  (seven  days 


THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  28 

even  to  be  enabled  to  do  it  with  more  honour  and 
propriety,  or  to  avoid  unlawful  proceedings.  In  these 
cases  we  are  allowed  to  keep  the  corpse  one  or  two 
days,  BUT  not  longer. 

7.  No  corpse  is  allowed  to  be  conveyed  from 
one  community  to  another,  when  the  former  has  a 
burial  gi'ound  of  its  own,  save  when  the  deceased 
has  expressed  in  his  last  will  a  particular  wish  to  be 
carried  to  the  place  of  the  sepulchre  of  his  ancestors. 

8.  Children  are  in  duty  bound  carefully  to  ar- 
range the  solemn  funeral  of  their  departed  parents, 
and  are  likewise  to  bear  all  the  expense  necessary 
for  the  interment,  though  no  inheritance  whatever 
was  left  to  them. 

9.  It  is  customary  to  have  a  ns^Ja  Matsaivah 
(tomb)  set  at  the  expiration  of  one  year  from  the 
day  when  death  took  place ;  in  some  countries  the 
nnrn  (tomb)  is  set  after  the  tji^jba  SJilosJdm  (thirty 
days  of  mourning),  and  sometimes  even  \7ithin  that 
period  (the  thirty  days  after  death). 


SECTION  X. 


.'■iD-i  /iD'i'obtri  /Hi'itD  >ti-\b^'2i<  ^^in 

Jjaws  concerning  Mourning,  its  beginning,  its  ohserva- 
tion  during  the  Shivah,  Slilosliim  etc.,  etc. 

1.  After  the  interment  has  taken  place,  the  usual 
time  of  rn;'i:i«  (mourning)  commences.  The  mourners 
must  neither  sit  upon  a  chau-  or  bench,  but  upon  the 
groiuid,  they  are  however  permitted  to  use  some  low 


27  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

SECTION  IX. 


Lmvs  concerning  the  conveying  of  the  dead  to  the 
hurying-ground,  etc. 

1.  The  corpse  is  to  be  carried  to  the  grave,  the 
coffin  covered  with  a  black  cloth,  followed  by  the 
mourners,  and  joined  by  the  procession. 

2.  No  relative  is  to  assist  in  carrying  the  ntJ?a 
(bier)  to  the  grave,  when  there  are  others  to  do  it. 

3.  We  are  also  permitted  to  follow  the  funeral 
of  those  j^ersons  "with  whom  we  were  at  variance 
during  their  lifetime,  save  the  deceased  protested 
against  it  in  his  last  vri\l,  or  verbally  expressed  him- 
self that  tliis  or  that  person  should  not  foUow  his 
funeral. 

4.  The  n">ib  (funeral  procession)  must  be  per- 
formed with  propriety  and  order.  The  followers 
must  manifest  their  participation,  and  the  whole  of 
the  ceremony  must  bear  the  stamp  of  solemn  order. 
Persons  beha-\ang  themselves  with  wanton  le\'ity  on 
such  an  a^v^ul  occasion,  by  laughing  and  profane 
jesting,  do  not  only  offend  the  dead,  but  disgrace 
themselves  and  debase  humanity. 

5.  Without  cogent  reasons,  the  corpse  must  not 
be  kept  long  Tiniten'ed. 

6.  We  are,  however,  allowed  to  leave  the  corpse 
uninterred  longer  than  usual,  when  it  is  calculated 
for  the  honour  and  respect  due  to  the  departed ;  for 
instance,  to  wait  for  absent  relatives  or  friends,  or 
to  procure  things  indispensable  for  the  funeral,  or 


THE  BOOK   OP  LIFE.  26 

5.  The  hail-  cut  off  fi-om  the  deceased  by  indent 
necessity,  must  be  interred  with  it. 

6.  Ealse  hau-  worn  by  the  departed  may  again 
be  used. 

7.  Should  it,  however,  have  been  tied  to,  or 
twisted  iu  the  haii-  of  the  departed,  then  it  must  be 
used  by  none,  iinless  the  deceased,  whilst  aHve,  par- 
ticularly desired  it  to  be  given  to  one  of  her  friends 
to  wear. 

8.  The  hair  cut  ofl'  whilst  alive  need  not  be 
interred  with  the  departed. 

9.  In  a  word,  everytliing  separated  from  the 
body  dui'ing  life,  and  which  grows  again,  for  instance, 
teeth,  hair,  nails,  &c.,  need  not  be  put  with  the  de- 
parted into  the  grave. 

10.  Some,  however,  preserve  the  teeth  fallen  out 
from  them  in  an  age  when  they  grow  no  more,  in 
order  to  be  iuteiTed  with  them. 

11.  Limbs  cut  off  by  medical  operation  or  by 
accident  must  be  buried  immediately. 

12.  Shrouds  j)i*epared  for  the  funeral  may  be 
used  for  any  other  purpose,  provided  they  were  as 
yet  not  put  on  the  corpse.  In  these  cases  the 
shrouds  prepared  for  the  ri)3  (departed)  must  be  un- 
ripped. 

13.  The  same  is  to  be  observed  when  a  grave 
has  been  dug,  and  another  is  afterwards  fixed  upon, 
the  former  must  be  filled  up.  Also  when  some  hin- 
di'ance  occurs,  so  that  the  funeral  cannot  take  place 
on  the  day  appointed,  then  the  grave  must  bo  filled 
up  or  covered,  and  must  not  be  left  open  over  night. 


25  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

which  is  to  be  drawn  over  the  legs,  and  in  case  it  is 
too  long  it  must  be  drawn  up  and  folded  under  the 
girdle. 

24.  The  hands  are  to  be  placed  at  the  side  in  a 
straight  position,  between  the  coffin  and  the  body, 
in  such  a  way  that  any  motion  or  shaking,  caused 
by  the  removal  of  the  coffin,  might  not  remove  them 
from  their  proper  position. 

25.  The  coffin  is  then  covered  with  a  black  cloth, 
the  foot  of  it  towards  the  door  through  which  it  is  to 
be  carried,  and  hghted  candles  at  the  head  thereof. 


SECTION  VIII. 


Laws  concerning  the  chamber  where  the  corpse  lies. 

1.  In  the  chamber  where  the  ri?a  (corpse)  lies, 
we  are  neither  allowed  to  2:)erform  the  daily  prayers 
(nbcn),  or  to  study  the  law.  Persons  desu-ous  of 
doing  so  must  quit  the  room,  even  on  ns"::  Sabbath 
or  mt3  t:Ti  (the  festival  days). 

2.  Those  who  have  no  other  room  save  that 
where  the  n?a  (corpse)  is  deposited,  must  erect  a 
partition  to  screen  it. 

3.  Sermons  and  moral  reflections,  however,  are 
allowed  to  be  deUvered  in  the  room  where  the  corpse 
is  deposited. 

4.  All  garments  taken  oif  fi-om  the  deceased 
may  again  bo  used. 


THE  BOOK  OP  LIFE.  24 

and  a  sheet  wi'apped  over  the  corpse  as  a  cloak.  Be- 
sides these  shroTids,  it  is  customary  to  clothe  the 
corpse  of  females  iu  a  cap,  stockings,  girdle,  and 
collar. 

20.  An  infant  one  year  old  must  also  be  clothed 
in  shrouds  the  same  as  an  adult ;  but  if  less  than  one 
year  old  no  Oia'io  (sui-jjlice)  is  required.  If  the  infant 
was  yet  swaddled  Avhilst  alive,  the  same  must  be 
done  after  its  death.  We  are  to  clothe  it  in  a  shirt, 
then  wrap  it  in  a  sheet,  over  which  the  corpse  is  to 
be  bandaged.  Also  the  legs  are  to  be  wrapped  in  a 
piece  of  cotton  or  linen.  But  if  the  infant  was  not 
bandaged  when  alive,  then  it  is  only  to  be  clothed 
in  a  shirt,  D3a"io  (sui-pHce)  and  girdle. 

21.  The  corpse  of  a  bD3  (premature  birth)  is  only 
to  be  wrapped  in  a  sheet.  Infants  who  die  soon 
after  birth,  must  be  shrouded  in  a  shirt  and  sheet, 
provided  they  have  abeady  been  di-essed  in  the 
former  when  ahve. 

22.  The  corpse  being  thus  washed  and  shrouded, 
is  next  to  be  put  into  the  coffin,  the  legs  must  be 
placed  together  in  a  straight  position.  The  thumbs 
must  be  put  into  the  palm  of  the  hand,  encompassed 
by  the  other  four  fingers,  and  in  order  that  the 
thumbs  shotdd  not  come  out  from  their  proper  places, 
they  are  to  be  tied  with  the  nis^::  Tsizitli  (frmgcs)  of 
the  n^ibtD  (Tallith).  The  wrapping  of  the  corpse  in 
the  sheet  must  be  done  in  such  a  manner  that  the 
collar  of  the  shirt  should  not  come  into  the  mouth. 

23.  Also  the  knees  of  the  coqjse  are  to  be  well 
covered  with  the  winding-sheet  or  ODaio  (surplice), 


23  THE   BOOK   OP  LIFE. 

saxy  removal  of  the  corpse,   in  case   the  coffin  is 
found  too  small. 

13.  Since  it  is  customary  to  make  no  knot  in  the 
thread  mth  which  the  shrouds  are  sewed,  care  must 
be  taken  in  the  sewing  thereof  that  they  should  not 
become  loose  in  the  shrouding.  It  is  advisable,  for 
many  laudable  reasons,  that  every  one  whose  situ- 
ation and  circumstances  allow  it,  to  prepare  the  cus- 
tomary shrouds  whilst  alive. 

14.  We  may  make  the  shrouds  of  fine  linen  or 
cotton,  but  of  no  coloui*ed  or  rich  stuff — this  would 
be  an  unnecessary  expense.  The  dead  must  also 
not  be  clothed  in  shrouds  embroidered  with  silver 
or  gold,  or  any  other  work,  in  order  that  they  may 
not  be  disturbed  iu  their  place  of  repose,  since  we 
have  had  too  numerous  instances  of  graves  being 
opened  to  strip  the  dead  of  their  costly  shrouds. 

15.  Care  must  be  taken  that  nothing  of  the 
shrouds  should  be  torn  or  soiled.  Every  hole  therein 
must  be  well  mended,  and  every  spot  washed  out. 

16.  Should  it,  however,  happen  that  they  become 
soiled  after  having  been  put  on  the  corpse  they  must 
be  washed,  though  they  become  wet  thereby. 

17.  The  sewing  of  the  shrouds  is  to  be  done  by 
daughters  of  Israel  with  jjious  zeal.  It  is  to  be  per- 
formed from  a  motive  of  tender  mercy,  from  truly 
good  and  unselfish  feelings  towards  the  departed. 

18.  No  woman  during  her  castamenia  is  allowed 
to  assist  in  washing  and  clothing  of  the  dead. 

19.  Also  females  must  not  be  shrouded  in  less 
than  three  garments;   viz.,  a  short  bt:ij?  (surphce) 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  22 

5.  In  those  commimities  where  it  is  customary 
to  provide  rcgulary  made  coffins  a  sheet  is  to  be 
wrapped  over  the  corpse  as  a  mantle.  The  n^bo 
( Tallith)  must  not  be  put  over  the  head  of  those 
who  were  not  accustomed  to  wear  it  in  this  way 
whUst  they  were  alive. 

6.  No  iTit:?  (embroidery  or  ornament)  must  be 
put  on  the  ni'sa  (Tallith)  given  to  the  deceased. 
Neither  are  we  allowed  to  embroider  the  rnc:3  (cor- 
ners) where  the  n^iri:!:  Tsizith  (fringes)  are  put. 

7.  The  nis'^s  Tsizith  (fringes)  are  merely  to  be 
drawn  into  the  holes  of  the  comers,  without  being 
tied  or  twisted,  but  \eicy  simply  fastened  to  it,  so  as 
to  prevent  their  dropping  out. 

8.  Should,  however,  some  gold  or  embroidery  be 
on  the  niit:  (Tallith),  it  must  be  taken  off,  and 
nothing  else   need  be  substituted  in  its  place. 

9.  A  child  that  wore  rr^S'^r  (fringes)  whilst  ahve, 
must  also  be  clothed  in  an  mD:^  3>2^!*  (Arhah  Kan- 
voth),  from  which  one  of  the  n^sis  (fringes)  must  be 
torn  off.  But  such  very  young  children  who  wore  no 
tresis  (fringes)  diu'ing  their  lifetime,  need  not  be 
clothed  in  it  after  theii'  death. 

10.  No  corpse  must  be  shrouded  in  less  than 
three  garments. 

11.  If  there  are  sufficient  persons  to  assist  in  the 
washing  and  the  shrouding  of  the  dead,  nc  relatives, 
however  distant,  are  to  be  engaged  to  do  it. 

12.  Before  the  corpse  is  deposited  in  the  coffin, 
we  should  measure  it,  in  order  to  avoid  the  unneces- 


21  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

n»"on  rm5D  (meal  of  condolence)  as  is  usually  done. 

23.  All  persons  occupied  with  the  disinterment 
of  the  dead,  are  exempt  from  saying  the  5':d  nsinp 
(Hear,  O  Israel),  ri:5:n  (daily  prayer),  and  from 
putting  on  V-"'^^  (phylacteries),  as  in  case  of  death. 

24.  No  '\n  (descendant  of  Aaron)  is  allowed  to 
touch  the  exhumed  remains,  not  even  those  of  his 
parents. 

SECTION  VII. 


Laws  concerning  the  Shrouds  and  Coffin. 

1.  The  deseased  is  clothed  in  the  usual  shrouds, 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  community. 

2.  Care  must  be  taken  that  nothing  shall  be 
placed  on  the  wrong  side,  and  Hkewise  that  nothing 
should  come  to  the  mouth  of  the  corpse. 

3.  First  the  ncrrra  (cap  or  mitre)  is  to  be  put  on 
the  head,  the  t!*ic:r^  (breeches),  then  the  raina 
(shirt),  and  next  the  neckcloth,  and  then  the  c:a"iD 
(a  garment  for  the  clothing  of  the  dead  in  the  style 
of  a  surplice),  and  then  the  ."Tinan  (girdle) ;  all  of 
which  must  be  made  of  linen  or  common  white  cot- 
ton. 

4.  The  rr^bt:  ( Tallith)  is  next  put  on  the  head. 
One  of  the  n^S'^s  Tsizith  (fringes)  is  to  be  torn. 
Every  string  or  tape  on  the  shroud  must  bo  folded 
twice,  (but  not  double  knotted),  then  twisted,  and 
lastly,  fastened  into  a  single  knot. 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  20 

16.  All  aslieS  found,  even  the  eartli  upon  wbich 
the  corpse  laid,  to  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
grave,  must  be  taken  out,  and  re-interred  "svith  the 
remains  of  the  corpse. 

17.  Childi'en  are  not  allowed  personally  to  dis- 
inter the  remains  of  their  parents,  nor  even  touch 
them ;  but  they  may  allow  others  to  do  so. 

18.  The  relatives  who  had  to  keep  the  mb'^-s 
(mourning)  at  the  day  when  death  took  place,  must 
re-observe  it  on  the  day  of  disinterment ;  and  what- 
ever is  obligatory  upon  an  "b-V;.  (mourner)  is  also  bind- 
ing upon  them  on  the  day  of  interment  till  night- 
fall, and  no  longer,  though  the  remains  have  not  yet 
been  re-interred. 

19.  They  are,  however,  exempt  from  observing 
the  law  of  an  ^Dit*  (the  obligatory  mourning  in  the 
interval  between  death  and  the  interment). 

20.  If  a  relative  hear  of  the  disinterment  of  one 
at  whose  death  he  was  boimd  to  observe  mb-ins 
(mourning),  he  is  equally  obHged  to  re-observe  it  on 
the  day  he  hears  of  the  re-interment  as  on  the  day 
of  death,  pro\ided  he  has  been  informed  of  it  on  the 
very  day  of  the  re-interment ;  but  if  later,  should  he 
even  receive  the  information  on  the  following  day, 
no  mb'^ri*  (mourning)  takes  place. 

21.  The  relatives  must  perform  the  n^'^ip  (rent) 
in  their  garments  on  the  day  of  disinterment,  and  are 
subject  to  the  same  laws  as  when  the  ny"<"~p  (rent) 
was  performed  at  the  time  of  death. 

22.  It  is  also  customary  for  the  neighbours  to 
send  to  the  mourner,  after  the  disinterment,    the 


19  THE   BOOK   OF  LEFE. 

which  are  to  be  buried  in  another  place,  the  same 
duties  and  respect  must  be  paid — due  to  every  de- 
parted. 

10.  They  must  not  be  disinterred  before  the 
whole  flesh  thereon  is  entirely  consumed ;  and  even 
then  we  are  only  allowed  to  do  it  when  the  departed, 
buried  in  this  place,  can  no  longer  remain  there,  or 
when  it  was  the  expressed  will  of  the  departed  to  be 
afterwards  dug  up  in  order  to  be  bui'ied  in  the  se- 
pulchre of  his  ancestors,  or  in  iiK'ioi  yn»  (the  land  of 
Israel,  the  Holy  Land). 

11.  In  case  the  interred  bodies  can  no  longer 
remain  in  the  place  where  they  were  interred ;  for 
instance,  if  government  do  not  suffer  the  place  to  be 
a  burial  ground  (no  difference  from  whatever  reason), 
then  we  may  disinter  the  remains,  and  carry  them 
to  some  other  place  of  rest. 

12.  Without  any  cogent  reason,  however,  the 
dead  are  not  to  be  disturbed  in  their  place  of  repose, 
nor  be  disinterred  for  the  pui-pose  of  assigning  to 
them  a  more  respectable  sepidchi-e. 

13.  If  the  remains  of  several  dead  bodies  are  dis- 
interred, care  should  be  taken  to  gather  the  ashes 
of  every  corpse  separately  and  not  to  mix  them,  so 
as  to  re-inter  the  remains  of  ever}'  one  as  they  were 
found. 

14.  The  bones  which  arc  yet  joined,  or  which 
form  a  perfect  skeleton,  must  not  be  dislocated. 

15.  The  old  boards  of  the  coffin  in  which  the 
corpse  was  deposited  must  not  be  used ;  they  must 
either  be  buried  or  burnt  on  the  same  spot. 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.  18 

in  order  to  prevent  tlie  loss  of  blood,  since  any  drop 
of  Llood  escaped  fi'om  the  deceased  after  the  de- 
mise, must  be  interred. 

4.  The  mb"'ns  Ovailolh  (mourning)  of  persons 
who  live  in  a  besieged  town,  commences  from  the 
time  when  the  corpse  is  put  into  a  coffin,  shut  up  or 
fastened  "\ntli  screws,  and  placed  in  a  bone-house, 
appointed  to  keep  the  dead  until  the  raising  of  the 
siege. 

5.  The  mb"i:::s  (mourning)  for  such  persons  whom 
we  know  cei'taiuly  to  have  been  dro"«Tied,  and  whoso 
corpse  cannot  be  found,  commences  from  the  mo- 
ment when  the  hope  of  their  being  found  is  entirely 
given  up. 

6.  Should  the  corpse,  however,  afterwards  be 
foimd  and  interred,  the  ts-ibni*  Ovailim  (mourners) 
are  exempt  from  re-obser\dng  the  ny-o  Shivah  (seven 
days  of  mourning),  but  the  ceremony  of  making  the 
TO'i'ip  JCreah  (rent),  must  be  re-performed;  they 
are  also  obhged  to  observe  all  the  fn'b"'Si*  (mourning) 
during  the  whole  day  of  interment. 

7.  The  same  law  is  to  be  observed  with  one 
who  was  condemned  to  the  gallows. 

8.  In  case  the  coipse  was  not  cut  do-\\ii  until 
some  time  after  the  execution,  the  relative  mourners 
must  make  again  the  n~i"ip  (rent),  and  observe  all 
the  laws  incumbent  on  mourners  at  the  time  of  in- 
temicnt ;  but  they  are  afterwards  exempt  from  keep- 
ing the  r.vzi2  (seven  days  of  mourning),  or  any  other 
law  obhgatory  upon  a  moimier. 

9.  Towards  the    remains  of   exhumed    bodies 


17  THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

are  also  permitted  to  clothe  the  corpse  in  a  wliite 
shirt,  over  wliich  we  put  the  usual  raiment,  and  then 
wrap  it  in  a  white  sheet.  In  some  places  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  lay  the  t3">5'^^5C"i  Takreakim  (shrouds)  of 
a  murdered  person  in  the  coffin. 


SECTION  VI. 


Laws  concerning  persons  killed  by  accident,  etc.;  like- 
wise concerning  disinterment. 

1.  It  is  usual  to  bury  tD'^ai'in  (slain  persons)  at 
some  distance  from  the  other  graves. 

A.  drowned  person,  or  one  dropped  down  dead, 
from  whom  no  blood  has  flowed,  must  be  treated  as 
others  who  died  naturally;  he  must  be  properly 
washed,  "v\Tapped  in  the  customary  shi'oud,  and  not 
in  his  own  dress.  Also  if  blood  had  inm  fi*om  the 
body  whilst  yet  alive,  but  had  entirely  ceased  after 
the  demise,  then  the  washing  and  clothing  must  be 
similar  to  those  who  died  naturally. 

2.  Should,  however,  blood  escape  from  him 
no  n^nt:  (washing)  must  take  place.  We  are  to  bu- 
ry the  corjDse  in  the  raiment  which  it  had  on  at  the 
time  when  death  took  place,  and  ever}d;liing  on 
which  the  tl  (blood)  ran  must  be  cut  out,  even  the 
spot  satiu'ated  with  ftn  (blood)  must  be  taken  off 
A\dth  a  shovel  and  interred  mtli  the  coi^^se.  But 
the  blood  which  escaped  from  the  body  wliilst  ahve, 
need  not  be  buried. 

3.  In  such  cases  the  coffin  must  be  well  pitched, 


THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  16 

are  merely  put  into  the  cofl&n ;   but  she  is  not  to 
be  shrouded  with  them. 

5.  In  some  places  the  D'^i'^nsn  (shrouds)  are  put 
over  the  dress  she  happened  to  be  attired  in  at  the 
time  she  died.  Should  she  die  in  her  bed  imdressed, 
a  frock  is  to  be  put  over  her  shii-t ;  wTap  her  also  in 
a  winding-sheet ;  and  we  may  either  clothe  her  in 
the  usual  shrouds,  or  put  them  merely  into  the  cof- 
fin ;  but  we  are  by  no  means  allowed  to  jjerform  the 
n^nts  (washing). 

6.  Should  we  discover  in  the  bed,  or  anywhere 
else,  such  lt  which  came  from  her  since  her  demise, 
the  place  on  w'hich  the  Q~i  (blood)  is  found  must  be 
cut  out  and  inten-ed  with  the  dead  body.  In  some 
congi-egations  it  is  usual  to  clothe  the  miiT^  (woman 
l}Tng-in)  in  her  Sabbath  dress  and  new  shoes ;  but 
the  less  garments  she  is  inteiTed  with,  the  better  it 
is.  We  are  not  allowed  to  wash  off  the  tn  (blood), 
either  from  the  dress  or  from  the  corpse. 

7.  It  is  customary,  when  a  woman  dies  during 
her  pregnancy,  without  being  delivered  with  child, 
to  put  at  the  foot  of  her  coffin  a  white  sheet.  In 
case  she  was  dehvered  with  child,  but  both  die, 
then  the  child  must  be  washed,  clothed,  put  in  a 
coffin,,  and  buried  with  the  mother  in  one  gi*ave,  but 
not  in  one  coffin. 

8.  It  is  also  customary  that  none  of  the  parents, 
at  the  death  of  their  first  cliild,  follow  the  funeral  to 
the  burial  ground.  We  are  allowed  to  wash  the 
body  of  one  killed  by  accident,  or  one  found  mur- 
dered, provided  we  see  no  blood  run  from  it.     We 


15  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

9.  The  arms,  feet,  fingers,  toes,  and  hair  of 
the  deceased  are  then  to  be  dried  by  means  of  clean 
sheets.  Even  the  board  upon  which  the  washing 
took  place  must  afterwards  be  well  cleaned  and  dried. 
10.  The  ninD  Taliarah  (piu-ifying)  water  spilt  on 
the  ground  must  be  well  dried.  Care  should  be 
taken  that  the  nnnu  water  is  not  poured  out  in 
public  places. 

SECTION  V. 


Laws  concerning   Women  dying  in  Child-bed. 

1.  If  a  woman  die  during  her  confinement,  the 
above  ceremony  of  purification  by  water  must  not 
be  performed,  if  a  lochia  has  taken  place. 

2.  The  tn  (blood)  found  either  on  garments  or 
on  the  ground,  which  escaped  fi'om  her  after  her  de- 
mise, must  be  put  in  a  cofiin,  well  joined  and  pitched. 

3.  Until  thirty  days  after  her  confinement  she 
is  called  a  mbi"'  (woman  lying-in),  and  in  case  she 
dies  within  thirty  days  of  her  confinement,  all  on 
(blood)  which  came  fi'om  her  after  her  demise  is  caUed 
CBDH  tn,  (blood  of  the  Soul)  and  must  therefore  be 
buried. 

4.  It  is  customary  in  some  places,  when  a  wo- 
man dies  duiing  her  confinement  -svith  a  child,  to  bury 
her  in  the  raiment  she  had  on  at  the  time  when  death 
took  jilace :  viz.,  a  linen  or  a  common  white  cotton 
shirt  is  to  be  wrapped  over  the  dress  she  happened 
to  have  on,  and  the  usual  ti'^si'^sn  Takreakim  (shrouds) 


THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE.  14 

corpse  must  not  be  touched  Avitli  the  naked  hand. 

3.  Wliilst  the  water  is  thus  j^oured  over  the 
corpse,  the  mouth  shoidd  be  covered  with  a  clean 
napkin,  to  prevent  the  water  from  lainning  into  it. 
The  corjise  must  remain  covered  from  liead  to  the  feet 
during  the  whole  time  of  the  washing. 

4.  No  part  of  the  deceased  body  must  remain 
uncovered  which,  if  we  were  to  uncover  when  ahve, 
would  be  considered  a  violation  of  decency. 

5.  The  washing  must  commence  from  the  head, 
and  thus  downward  to  the  feet.  During  the  washing 
the  corpse  must  lie  with  the  face  turned  upwards, 
after  which  it  must  be  inclined  upon  the  right  side, 
in  order  to  wash  the  left  side  and  a  part  of  the  back. 

6.  This  being  done,  we  are  to  turn  it  on  the 
left  side  whilst  the  right  side  and  the  other  part  of 
the  back  is  properly  washed,  and  then  again  placed 
as  before  on  the  back. 

7.  An^^hing  cleaving  fast  to  the  coi-pse  need 
not  to  be  scratched  off.  The  nails  of  the  hands  and 
feet  must  be  properly  cleaned  with  pins  made  for  this 
purpose. 

8.  After  the  nint:  Taharah  (washing)  is  thus  per- 
formed, those  who  attend  to  it  are  to  wash  their  hands 
with  clean  water,  and  wipe  them  with  a  napkin. 
Foui'  persons  are  to  hold  a  clean  sheet  over  the 
corpse,  the  lower  and  wet  sheet  on  the  corpse  is  to 
be  removed,  and  other  nine  cahhin  of  clean  and  cold 
water  are  to  be  poured  over  the  bare  coi-pse,  com- 
mencing from  tlie  head  downwards,  which  is  the 
proper  and  actual  nnnD  Taharah  (piu'ification). 


13  THE   BOOK   OF  LIFE. 

5.  Nor  need  tlie  t2"'::"j<  Onim  (afflicted),  during 
tliis  time  (though  the  interment  be  delayed  several 
days),  say  the  daily  prayers  and  blessings.  They  are 
also  exempt  from  all  ceremonial  observances,  includ- 
ing grace  after  meals,  and  the  response  of  "Amen" 
to  the  blessings  pronounced  in  their  presence. 

6.  They  are  not  to  take  theii-  meals  ■with  their 
family  at  one  table,  but  every  one  must  take  them 
separately.  They  are  allowed  to  go  out  and  attend 
to  everything  requisite  for  the  funeral,  and  when  at 
home  they  must  neither  take  oflf  their  shoes  nor  sit 
on  the  groimdlike  an  ^r»  Ouvel  (mourner). 


SECTION   IV. 


Lmos  concerning  the   Washing  and  Shrouding. 

1.  The  corpse  is  then  placed  upon  the  nint) 
Taharah  (pimf}dng)  board  with  its  feet  towards  the 
door,  and  covered  "oith  a  clean  sheet.  The  shu-t  of 
the  corpse  must  be  rent  through  from  the  breast 
downward,  and  taken  off  in  such  a  manner,  so  that 
the  whole  coi-pse  should  remain  covered  with  the  sheet. 
These  ceremonial  laws  are  even  to  be  observed  by 
the  corpse  of  an  infant. 

2.  The  deceased  is  then  to  be  washed  with  tepid 
water,  but  not  with  hot.  We  must  take  nine  fuU 
nahhin*  of  water  (not  less),  from  which  we  pour 
upon  the  sheet  with  which  the  coqose  is  covered, 
and  was  hit  bv  the  means  of  this  sheet;  but  the 


*A  cab  ccntaiDS  about  two  pints. 


THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  12 

SECTION  III. 


Laws  concerning  the  interval  hetiveen  death  and 
interment. 

1.  The  corpse  is  then  to  be  deposited  on  the 
ground,  the  head  to  be  laid  on  a  little  straw,  the 
hands  and  feet  to  be  placed  in  a  sti-aight  j)osition ; 
after  which  the  whole  body  is  to  be  covered  with  a 
black  cloth,  a  lighted  candle  to  be  placed  at  the  head, 
and  the  feet  of  the  dead  must  be  towards  the  door. 
The  water  which  happened  to  bo  in  the  house  where 
death  occured,  must  be  poured  away. 

2.  People  ought  to  be  appointed  carefully  to 
watch  the  coi-pse,  to  prevent  animals  or  insects  touch- 
ing it ;  and  also  that  some  one  be  at  hand  to  give 
immediate  aid,  if  any  sign  of  life  appear. 

3.  Wlioever  is  occupied  with  the  preparation  for 
the  funeral  is  exempt  from  the  reading  of  the  Kereath 
Shemah  (bsnci  :5?am),  and  all  other  observances  enact- 
ed by  Di\'ine  Law,  during  the  time  thus  occupied. 
Should  there  be  many  people  engaged  in  the  prepar- 
ation for  the  fimeral,  they  are  to  take  the  duties  by 
turns  :  so  that  whilst  one  party  attends  to  them,  the 
other  may  be  enabled  to  repeat  then-  prayers,  provid- 
ed it  does  not  in  any  way  interfere  with  the  funeral. 

4.  As  long  as  the  body  is  not  inten-ed,  the  rela- 
tives are  D"ODik  Onim  (afflicted),  and  must  abstain 
from  eating  meat  and  drinking  wine  until  after  the 
interment. 


11  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

ances  and  customs  obligatory  duriiig  tlie  thirty  days, 
and  are  allowed  to  sew  the  nsi"ip  K'reah  (rent) ;  and 
in  case  we  mourn  for  parents,  the  hair  of  the  head 
and  the  beard  must  not  be  taken  off,  and  the  rent 
may  only  be  stitched  together  the  day  before  the 
festival. 

15.  At  the  death  of  relatives,  if  wo  are  not  in- 
formed of  it  until  after  the  exphation  of  thirty  days 
after  then*  demise,  we  are  exempt  from  making  the 
n5i"ip  JCreah  (rent) ;  but,  at  the  death  of  parents,  we 
must  rend  all  our  garments  we  had  on  at  the  time 
the  report  reached  us,  though  more  than  thu-ty  days 
had  elapsed  since  their  demise. 

16.  One  who  meets  with  the  calamity  of  losing 
both  parents  at  once,  or  shoidd  the  report  of  their 
demise  reach  him  on  one  day,  he  makes  one  njinp 
KWeah  (rent)  for  both.  But  should  he  meet  with 
the  death  of  a  parent  and  relative  on  one  day,  the 
n3>i"ip  for  his  parent  is  to  be  made  first,  and  at  about 
the  distance  of  three  fingers  fi:om  the  first  ny"ip 
he  must  make  another,  about  the  size  of  a  span, 
for  his  relative. 

17.  If  a  sick  person  is  taken  with  a  fit,  and  the 
bystanders,  beheving  him  to  be  dead,  make  the  usu- 
al rent,  they  are  not  bound,  if  he  expires  immediately, 
to  re-perform  the  same ;  but  if  more  than  an  hour 
has  clasped  before  his  demise,  the  rent  must  be  again 
made  within  the  width  of  three  fingers  of  the  first. 


THE  BOOK   OF  LIFE.  10 

8.  It  is  also  obligatory  to  make  the  r!5"'-ip  KWeah 
(rent)  in  the  garments  of  minors,  since  it  is  calculat- 
ed to  manifest  signs  of  mourning. 

9.  The  r;3>"inp  ICrcah  (rent)  must  be  made  in  the 
front,  at  the  edge  of  the  garment,  but  not  on  its  seam. 

10.  A  person  confined  to  his  bed,  by  sickness, 
is  exempt  from  making  the  n5"i"ip  KWeah  (rent),  even 
at  the  death  of  his  parents. 

11.  If  a  person  is  overtaken  diuing  nrir  Sliivah 
by  the  death  of  another  relative,  he  tears  the  same 
nyi-ip  K'reali  (rent)  made  on  the  occasion  of  the  first 
death  a  span  further ;  should  this,  however,  happen 
at  the  termination  of  the  seven  days,  he  has  only  to 
rend  the  first  t^'^'^'^p  ICreah  a  small  piece  more,  but 
when  overtaken  by  the  death  of  his  parents  within 
or  soon  after  the  ji^ztd  Shivah  (seven  days  of  mourn- 
ing) for  relatives,  he  is  then  to  make  a  new  rent  of 
the  size  of  a  span,  three  fingers  distance  from  the 

fil'St. 

12.  The  laws  of  tearing  the  garments  are  obli- 
gatory upon  every  one,  either  male  or  female,  with 
the  distinction,  that  the  latter,  at  the  demise  of 
parents,  do  not  make  the  nyinp  KWeah  (rent)  in  the 
dress  one  above  the  other,  on  account  of  decency. 
They,  therefore,  must  make  it  in  different  places, 
which  rent  they  may  afterwards  stitch  together. 

13.  At  the  death  of  an  infant,  less  than  thirty 
days  old,  neither  the  r;5''-ip  Kreah  (rent)  nor  the 
seven  days  of  mourning  are  to  be  observed. 

14.  If  any  of  the  festivals  occur  within  the  thirty 
days  of  mourning,  we  are  exempt  from  all  observ- 


y  THE  BOOK  OF  LIFE. 

should  remain  shut ;  and  all  those  present  at  the  time 
when  death  took  place,  are  bound  to  make  a  small 
rent  in  one  of  their  garments,  which  rent  they  are 
allowed  soon  thereafter  to  sew  together. 

2.  Near  relatives,  who  are  bound  to  keep  the 
nyna  Shivah  (seven  days  of  mom-niiig),  must  make  a 
n^'i-ip  K'reah  (rent)  in  their  garments,  about  the  size 
of  a  span,  which  is  to  be  done  in  the  following  way, 

3.  They  must  cut  with  a  knife  the  edge  of  the 
garment,  near  the  neck  (either  in  the  coat  or  waist- 
coat), and  then  to  rend  it  about  a  span  farther,  whilst 
incliniag  the  head  over  the  corpse. 

4.  This  ns'i-ip  K'reah  (rent)  is  to  be  made  on  the 
right  side  of  the  garment,  except  at  the  death  of 
parents,  it  must  be  done  on  the  left  side  of  all  gar- 
ments, which  the  mourner  just  happened  to  have  on, 
with  the  exception  of  his  shirt,  over-coat,  or  mantle. 

5.  The  performance  of  this  ceremony  must  take 
place  standing;  and  in  case  the  nsi-ip  ICreah  (rent) 
was  made  when  sitting,  we  must  rise,  and  re-perform 
the  same. 

6.  At  the  death  of  a  relative  the  rent  may  be 
stitched  together  at  the  expu-ation  of  the  n5-D  Shivah 
(seven  days  of  moui-ning),  and  properly  sewn  together 
after  the  fi'^Db'j  Shloshim  (thirty  days  of  mourning) ; 
except  at  the  loss  of  parents,  it  may  only  be  stitched 
after  the  expiration  of  the  a-inbo  Shloshim  (thu'ty 
days  of  mourning) ;  but  it  must  never  be  properly 
sewn. 

7.  This  ceremony  must  be  performed  before  the 
1i"ii*  Oro7i  (coifin)  is  closed. 


THE   BOOK   OF  LITE.  8 

5.  In  such  a  crisis  we  must  also  not  tear  off  from 
the  sufferer  anything  that  cleaves  fast  to  his  body : 
for  instance,  a  plaster  or  such  like. 

6.  Neither  are  we  allowed  to  place  anything 
beneath  him,  though  many  su2:>erstitious  persons 
maintain  that  cei-tain  things,  being  put  under  the  sick 
man's  couch,  will  cause  an  easier  death. 

7.  In  case  of  something  sticking  to  the  lips  of 
the  sufferer,  we  may  wipe  it  off,  but  we  must  be  very 
careful  not  to  scraj^e  it  if  it  sticks  fast  to  his  tongue. 
Should  the  hand  or  leg  of  the  dymg  suspend  from 
the  bed,  we  may  slowly  and  gently  restore  it. 

8.  At  the  time  when  death  takes  place,  we  must 
not  suffer  the  relatives  or  friends  to  weej)  or  cry- 
aloud,  "wdthia  healing  of  the  dying,  lest  we  render 
the  struggle  of  death  more  heavy. 

9.  It  is  also  strictly  prohibited  to  speak,  ia  the 

presence   of  the  djing,  of  the  preparations  for  tlio 

fimeral :  for  by  that  we  only  increase  his   sufferings, 

by  his  hearing  that  we  think  already  of  his  funeral, 

while  he  is  yet  aHve. 

On  the  approach  of  death,  the  prayers  on  page   64  are  repeated 
by  those  surrounding  the  dying. 


SECTION  II. 


Laws  concerning  the  Bending  of  Garments,  etc. 

1.     The  eyes    of  the  deceased  are  then    to  bo 
closed    and   the  chin  tied  up,   so  that  the  mouth 


LAWS, 


Begarding  the  Dying,  the  Mourners,  the  IIouso  of  Mourning,  the 
Burial  Place,  the  Coffin,  Shrouds  aud  the  Grave ;  the  periods  of 
nS'^'J  (Shivah)t  C^ll'b'i;  (ShJoshim),  the  Anniversary  of  Death 
(Jahrseit),  etc.,  etc., — divided  into  10  Sections. 


SECTION  I. 


Laws  concerning  the  Dying. 

1.  It  being  strictly  prohibited  to  hasten  the 
death  of  man,  we  are  therefore  not  allowed,  (if  we 
will  not  render  ourselves  guilty  of  shedding  blood)  to 
remove  a  dying  person  from  his  place,  or  to  take  from 
under  him  the  bed  or  any  other  article  upon  Avhich 
he  lies :  should  he  even,  by  oiu*  not  remo\dng  him, 
remain  long  in  this  aw^il  struggle. 

2.  It  is  hkewise  prohibited  to  give  to  the  dying 
person  medicine,  or  to  apply  any  cure  to  him,  when 
we  see  that  his  dissolution  is  nigh,  and  that  he  is 
past  all  human  aid. 

3.  But  should  the  sick  still  have  sufficient 
strength  to  diink,  or  should  he  ask,  either  by  words 
or  signs,  for  di'ink,  then  we  must  give  it  to  him. 

4.  Yet  we  are  not  allowed  to  pour  it  into  the 
mouth  of  the  sick,  lest  he  might  choke,  and  we  then 
should  have  caused  his  death. 


.,  VNIVERs 


INDEX. 

Prayer  at  the  grave  of  grovm-up  children,  150 

Prayer  at  the  grave  of  infants,  152 
Prayer  on  visiting  Ihe  cemetery  on  the  day  before 

New  Tear  or  the  Day  of  Atonement,  156 
Short  prayer  at  the  grave  of  either  father,  mother, 

son,  daughter,  or  other  relatives,  160 

Prayer  on  leaving  the  cemetery,  160 

Prayer  for  daily  bread,  162 
Prayer  for  forgiveness  of  sin  committed  against 

departed  ones,  164 

ADDITIONAL    PRAYERS. 

PRATERS  FOR  THE  SICK. 

Prayer  for  a  sick  hnsband,  169 

Prayer  for  sick  parents,  170 

Prayer  for  a  sick  child,  171 

Prayer  in  heavy  sickness,  172 

PRATERS  FOR  THE   DEAD. 

Reflections,  173 
Meditations  and  Prayers  on  visiting  the  graves  of 

those  we  loved,  175 

On  the  anniversary  of  a  parent's  death,  [Jahrseit,)  176 

At  a  father's  grave,  177 

At  a  father's  grave,  179 

At  a  mother's  grave,  ISO 

At  a  mother's  grave,  188 

At  a  husband's  grave,  183 

At  a  husband's  grave,  186 

At  a  wife's  grave,  187 

At  a  child's  grave,  187 

At  a  child's  grave,  189 

At  a  brother's  or  sister's  grave,  190 

At  a  brother's  or  sister's  grave,  191 

At  a  grandparent's  grave,  192 

At  a  friend's  or  relative's  grave,  192 

On  setting  a  tombstone,  193 

On  leaving  the  cemetery,  194 


INDEX. 


LAWS.  Page. 

Laws  concerning  the  dying,  7 

Laws  concerning  the  rending  of  garments,  8 
Laws  concerning  the  interval  between  death  and  interment,      12 

Laws  concerning  the  washing  and  shrouding,  13 

Laws  concerning  women  dying  in  child-bed,  15 

Laws  concerning  persons  killed  by  accident,  etc.,  17 

Laws  concerning  disinterment,  17 

Laws  concerning  the  shrouds  and  coffin,  21 

Laws  concerning  the  chamber  wherein  the  corpse  lies,  25 
Laws  concerning  the  conveying  of  the  dead  to  the 

cemetery,  etc.,  27 
Laws  concerning  mourning,  its  beginning,  its  observation 

during  the  Shivah,  Sh'loshim,  etc.,  28 

ORDER   OF   PRATERS. 

Prayer  for  persons  conscious  of  approaching  death,  62 

Verses  pronounced  at  the  departure  of  life,  64 

Verses  pronounced  on  laying  the  corpse  on  the  floor,  66 

Verses  pronounced  on  washing  the  corpse,  etc.,  66 

Prayer  before  removing  the  corpse  to  the  cemetery,  68 

Prayers  at  the  cemetery,  70 

Grace  after  the  meal  of  condolence,  78 

Psalm  after  evening  prayers,  92 

Portions  of  Talmud  recited  during  Shivah,  94 

Prayers  after  the  recitation  of  the  Talmudic  portion,  1 16 

Kaddish,  (p^lT  ^''Ip)  120 

PRATERS  AT  THE   GRAVES. 

Prayer  at  the  graves  of  various  relatives,  122 

Prayer  on  the  anniversary  of  the  death  of  a  parent,  126  ■ 

Prayer  on  visiting  the  grave  of  a  father,  132 

Prayer  on  visiting  the  grave  of  a  mother,  ]36 

Prayer  on  visiting  the  grave  of  a  wife,  140 

Prayer  of  a  widow  at  the  grave  of  her  husband,  144 


PEEFACE. 


Sad  experience  has  keenly  made  us  feel  the  want  of 
a  practical  book  containing  the  ritual,  ceremonies  and 
customs  generally  observed  at  deaths  and  burials,  on 
visiting  the  cemetery,  and  especially  in  the  house  of 
mourning.  Any  inexperienced  person  to  whose  lot  has 
fallen  the  mournful  task  of  supervising  the  depositing  of 
the  remains  of  a  near  relative  in  their  final  resting  place, 
must  have  felt  the  want  of  a  book  containing  the  neces- 
sary instructions  and  directions  for  such  occasions,  in 
a  convenient  and  eligible  order. 

Admitting  that  there  are  a  number  of  books  in  exist- 
ence containing  such  laws,  usages,  prayers,  etc,  it  is  an 
acknowledged  fact  that  the  majority  of  them  are  so  badly 
arranged  that  they  almost  confuse  a  person  who  has  not 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  them.  Toremedy  this,  we  have 
arranged  the  present  one  so  simply  that  the  most  inex- 
perienced person  can  ascertain  all  information  required. 

We  have  also  devoted  considerable  space  to  prayers 
for  those  visiting  the  graves  of  various  relatives;  the 
majority  of  which,  having  been  originally  composed  by 
most  prominent  Jewish  scholars,  will  be  found  more  im- 
pressive and  more  apt  to  infuse  the  balm  of  consolation 
than  the  old  stereotyped  translations  of  Hebrew  prayers. 

The  inspiration  of  confidence,  comfort  and  consola- 
tion to  those  who  have  occasion  to  give  this  "Book  of 
Life"  an  attentive  perusal,  will  be  an  assurance  that 
some  good  has  been  accomplished  by 

THE    PUBLISHER 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congres?,  in  the  year  1878,  by 
L.     H.    PRANK    &    CO., 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


♦D"nn   "iDD 


THE 


BOOK  OF  LIFE. 


A    COMPLETE    FORMULA    OF    THE 


SERVICE  AND  CEREMONIES 


OBSERVED    AT    THE 


grdt|-ki;  Pouse  of  Slaunuiig  ait^  €mtttxi; 


TOGETQEK     WITU 


PRAYERS  ON  VISITING  THE  GRAVES. 


ELABORATED    AND    REVISED    BV 


REV.   DR.   H.  VIDAVER.  

/  or  rHc    '^^ 

NEW    YORK:  ^^i^Li? -^    .i-»^ 

H.    SAKOLSKt,    53    DIVISION    STREET. 


1882—5642. 


14  DAY  USE 

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